11 years ago we moved into a house that had a beautiful Laurel, but last year we were forced to uproot it. The masons who were removing the tree had a hard time removing it, because the roots were very long and rooted in the ground. In the end they had to call a tow truck to rip it out completely.
When I think of bitterness, I remember this example of the roots of my tree. Bitterness is like a plant that grows in our hearts and takes root, until you realize that it has grown too much and is very difficult (although not impossible) to eradicate.
what is bitterness
Bitterness is a lasting feeling of frustration, sadness, or resentment, especially at having suffered disappointment or injustice. It is an affliction or upset that involves lack of forgiveness, torment and lack of calm and peace in the heart. The word bitterness used in the Greek New Testament is “pikros,” which implies stinging, poison, piercing, piercing, bitter. A person with bitterness in his heart is a person who is poisoned and who poisons with his words. It is sharp when speaking and expressing itself, and it does so with a bitter taste. He is a tormented and afflicted person.
Bitterness in Scripture
The Bible teaches us a few things about bitterness:
- In the Scriptures we see bitterness considered as a sin that takes deep root in the heart: “Be removed from you all bitterness, anger, anger, shouting, insults, as well as all malice” (Eph.4:31).
- Bitterness is contagious: it is an attitude that is transmitted from one person to another very easily, “Take care that no one fails to reach the grace of God; that no root of bitterness, springing up, causes difficulties and by it many are contaminated” (Heb. 12:15).
- Bitterness brings other sins with it, it doesn’t come alone; as it says in Ephesians 4: 31-32, she is accompanied by a group of friends who are never separated, these are anger, rage, revenge, shouting, sharp words, in general all kinds of malice.
unforgiveness
Different situations can cause bitterness in our hearts, but one of them, and I think it could be the most common, is unforgiveness. When we are hurt, don’t deal with what happened and don’t forgive, bitterness can start to grow like a seed in our hearts, taking big roots.
“Do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Eph. 4:26). If we don’t forgive soon, hatred and the desire for revenge towards the one who has hurt us will grow in our hearts.
According to what the Scriptures teach us, not to forgive is to give place to the devil: “BE ANGRY, BUT DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on his anger, nor give the devil an opportunity (place) ”(Eph. 4: 26-27). If we don’t fix the offenses soon, the devil will take advantage and settle into our lives: “But whoever forgives something, I forgive it too. For in truth, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for you in the presence of Christ, so that Satan does not take advantage of us, since we are not ignorant of his plans ”(2 Cor. 2: 10-11 ).
Forgiving others is an act of obedience to the Lord and in Christ we can find the supreme example of forgiveness. When we forgive, we are guarding our hearts from bitterness.
Consequences of a bitter heart
One of the main ways that bitterness of heart manifests itself is through our words. The Bible teaches us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Mt. 12:34). A heart full of bitterness is one from which hurtful words will flow towards others.
Another of the characteristics of the bitter person is that they see each situation through their bitterness and have a tendency to be harsh and cold with others, having very little mercy for the sins of others. As we mentioned earlier, the bitterness in our hearts causes difficulties and contaminates others (Heb. 12:15). A person with bitterness in his heart has a hard time maintaining healthy relationships with others.
battling the bitterness
The Word of God is not silent to any aspect of our lives and just as it shows us the causes and consequences of bitterness, it also tells us what to do when this is the condition of our hearts:
- If the root cause of bitterness is lack of forgiveness, then forgive! and do it as soon as possible. Once again, don’t let the sun go down on your anger (Eph. 4:26).
- Be vigilant of your own heart, attentive to any possible outbreak of bitterness.
- Recognize bitterness as a grave sin against God. Do not minimize it and ask for forgiveness: the blood of Christ has power to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:8).
- Hold on to the grace that is provided in Christ Jesus. Through his work on the cross, we can be healed and forgiven, and through that same gospel our hearts are being transformed (Eph. 1: 18-21).
- Get rid of the old man and put on the new, created according to God (Eph. 4:22). We must remove this sin like dirty clothes that stain our entire being.
Christ is our supreme example. He never sinned; we are the ones who have offended him, and even so, He forgave us on the cross, bearing our sins and receiving the punishment that we deserved. He did not become embittered, on the contrary, he looked at us with pure mercy and love and everyone who recognizes his sin and comes to Him with faith, God receives him, erasing all his sin and making him his son. If Christ has forgiven us, shouldn’t we forgive all who offend us? With your eyes fixed on Jesus, seek to cultivate true forgiveness in your life as Christ forgave you, and guard your heart from the sin of bitterness.