Bitterness
by David J. Stewart
Many people are bitter over the past, frustrated
about the present and worried about the future. I would like
to speak to you now about bitterness.
The word "bitterness" in the New Testament means "clutter." That is very interesting! Clutter? Yes, that is what bitterness is--clutter. So many people have ill feelings and anger still "cluttering" their hearts from years ago. To fret and anguish over past moments and experiences that cannot be changed or eradicated by any means is a common problem with people. We are prone to magnify concerting moments and painful experiences. It is very difficult for some people to conquer bitterness. The past is THERE, how do you just forget it?
The answer is that you must learn to view your past from a different perspective--God's perspective. Life is short friend and we ALL have to answer to God at the judgment someday. We must begin to realize that 10,000 years from now, none of this will matter. Whatever pain someone has caused you in your life will come back on them if they have sinned against you. I believe God will hold people accountable for every unkind word spoken. We read in the Scriptures that God will hold us accountable for "every idle word" (Matthew 12:36). How much more then, will God hold people accountable for lies, broken promises, domestic violence, theft, arrogant self-righteousness and pride? How much more will God hold those people accountable that persecute and harass God's Child?
If this shoe fits you, then you must do some house cleaning in your heart and get the clutter out. Explain the situation to God and ask him to help you set your mind on the present instead of the past. The devil tries to use the past against us, but God abides in the present. Bitterness is nothing more than lingering bad, resentful, painful feelings (a cluttered heart). We must place these heavy burdens in the Lord's hands through prayer. Pray for God to avenge you. Pray for the salvation of those who have hurt you. If a believer has wronged you, pray that God will avenge you and convict that person. If at all possible, try to mend things one-on-one. If not, place it in God's hands and move on with your life.
I knew a man who's father hurt him deeply. The father had lied to his son and stolen some money from him. The father disrespected his son in dozens of ways, primarily with his viscous hot-temper. The father was a tyrant and had destroyed his entire family. His daughters refused to marry for fear of ending up like their poor neglected mother. The father didn't have a genuine sense of remorse for his actions, but rather kept repeating the abuse. The father is an ordained minister ("sinister minister" is more like it). This foolish father will have to answer to God for his many abusive actions. How sad! How wicked! His children have a natural hatred for their father, but they try not to hate him on purpose. His children want nothing to do with him. They rejoiced upon their mother's death, knowing that the father could no longer abuse his wife. This is a good example of bitterness. How do you let an entire childhood of screaming, yelling and physical abuse go? Only through God!
The Scriptures teach that "The truth shall make you free", John 8:32. Oftentimes it takes a long time, even years, for our minds to find peace over the past. The amount of time depends on us. There is NO general guideline to follow. The important thing is that you purposely decide to let the past go and work at not thinking about it anymore. Place it into God's hands--then every time you think about the past you can look to Jesus, knowing that He loves you and is pleading your cause. Believe me friend--the Bible says it would be better to have a big rock tied around your neck and be cast to the depths of the ocean, then to offend one of God's children (Matthew 18:6). God will avenge ALL. We will give account of "every word" to God.
We live in a fallen, imperfect world where bad things happen as a part of life. Television is a lie--suffering and unhappy endings are reality! Learning and comprehending certain truths will help us overcome the most bitter feelings, and allow us to move on with our lives for God. We must view life from eternity's perspective. Life is short with no guarantee of tomorrow, Proverbs 27:1. Someday, all tears will be wiped away forever, no more pain, no sorrow, no misery, no sickness, no death (Revelation 21:4). What a day that will be! Let these truths sink into your heart. Make sure you are a saved, born-again believer.
Is there clutter in your heart? I'll feelings, that come and go from day to day? Does the past cause you to have nightmares at night? I should of, I would of, I could of--Hind-sight is 20/20. You can't change the past, only learn from it. You can't do anything about water under the bridge, so you must change what you can change--YOURSELF. Get close to God! Start earning rewards in heaven by telling other folks about the Lord Jesus Christ and how to be saved. Start living for God and loving those in your family with kindness and respect. Start saying what you mean and meaning what you say. Join an Independent Baptist Church that goes soul-winning and jump right in. Don't let the devil defeat you, get even! Do some major damage to Satan's plans by winning people over from hell to Jesus Christ.
Search your heart for the truth of the matter, put it into God's hands and let the past go. Cling to Jesus as your best friend and never let Him go.
"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him" (Job 13:15).
