WHAT IS EATING YOU?

Dear Believer,

Read this story:

A man felt slighted by his neighbor’s attitude to him, so he decided to take revenge. He wanted his own ‘pound of flesh.’

Since he couldn’t hurt his neighbor directly because that one had some vicious dogs guarding his house, he decided to do it ‘by proxy.’

This man then purchased a very sharp knife, and looking in the direction of his neighbor, began stabbing his own thigh. As he was stabbing himself, he was ‘concentrating’ and ‘projecting’ that pain to his neighbor.

Simply put, this man was deeply hurting himself hoping that his neighbor would feel the pain. He was literally having his own ‘pound of flesh,” pun very much intended!

If you want to laugh, let me tell you this: IT ISN’T FUNNY!

This is exactly how resentment and bitterness works: you allow negative, vindictive thoughts and all kinds of negative feelings to eat you up from inside because of someone who probably isn’t aware that you are even feeling that way.

Some people are so gingerly meticulous about what they eat, but they don’t care that some terrible things are eating them up from within.

Here’s something the Bible has to say about it:

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. (Hebrews 12:15-16).

We see in this passage that one of the signs that divine grace is failing in a Believer’s life is the growing of ‘any’ root of bitterness in him. We see here that not only does it trouble the bitter person, it also defiles many others. The reason is that the bitter person seeks support from others, and when they ‘sympathize’ with him and buy into that feeling, they are infected with bitterness and become defiled. It isn’t uncommon for a person that is hurt to recruit his friends and family into a fellowship of bitterness against his ‘enemy.’

I have often said to people who harbor unforgiveness against others, “The bitter man is the first victim of his bitterness.” It starts in him, so it hurts him first, and it hurts him most.

In that passage immediately after the verse we just referred to, a mention is made of Esau.

Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. (Hebrews 12:16).

What is the connection between bitterness and ‘fornication’ and ‘profanity’?

The word ‘fornication’ in this verse is translated from the Greek word ‘pornos.’ It means a male prostitute or whoremonger, among other things. Esau was cheated by Jacob his brother and became deeply resentful. We can infer here that this led to other forms of immorality in his life.

Some wounds are too deep to be wished away and many are dealing with the aftermath of severe traumatic experiences. That reality should never be trivialized. When a person’s heart is broken, it is difficult for other people to understand that pain.

However, Jesus has come to heal the brokenhearted, too. Bitterness steals a person’s joy, troubles them constantly and then troubles their loved ones. 

It isn’t uncommon for a person that is hurt to recruit his friends and family into a fellowship of bitterness against his ‘enemy.’

Dear Believer, you are a New Creation and bitterness has no place in you. It is absolutely unprofitable. You have the source of the living waters in you. James asks:

Does a spring give both good and bitter water from the same source? (James 3:11)

So bitterness and life cannot flow from you at the same time and from the same source. It is impossible for a bitter believer to be a profitable believer.

Be joyful in the Lord for yourself. If you decide to be bitter against someone, this negative feelings in you can hardly get to them.

In the case of serious issues such as sexual abuse, the abuser should be made to answer for his or her crime with the relevant authorities to protect others, however, the person who has been hurt must seek the help of God for healing.

Do not let a bitter experience make your life a bitter one till the end. There is help in God.

Most cases of bitterness result from bickering about generally inconsequential things. Bitterness is a manifestation of the flesh and must be shut down.

James tells us:

Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you? (James 4:1).

Every believer can live above bitterness. There is power in you to forgive. Reach to the Holy Spirit and be empowered to uproot every root of bitterness.

Please pray aloud with me:

Father in heaven, I acknowledge your grace in my life today. I extend the same grace to those who have hurt me and I forgive them. I uproot all roots of bitterness that may have grown in me and I wash my heart with the power of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

Your friend,
Deon.
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For further studies read Luke 23:32-43