Post by Cindy on May 8, 2016 10:13:04 GMT -5
“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” (Hebrews 12:15)
Believers are cautioned to avoid any root of bitterness. Bitterness results from intense animosity and resentment. This bitter “root” bears bitter fruit, such as ill-will, unresolved anger, jealousy, dissension, and immorality. A plant grows slowly, but what is in the root will definitely surface in time. Bitterness may spring up in the heart of one individual, but if it is allowed to develop, it can have wide-ranging effects. The solution to bitterness and its consequences is forgiveness (“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31–32).
BITTERNESS: CHOOSING RESENTMENT
Suffering does not automatically make a person stronger or better. The way you respond to suffering determines whether that hurt makes you better or bitter.
God has provided His grace to soothe in times of hurting. Refusing that grace creates an inner environment where bitterness can grow. Every woman at some point in her life experiences being wronged by another. She then chooses either to forgive or to dwell upon the wrongdoing until she becomes bitter. To be bitter is a choice to be faced by every woman. When a root of bitterness springs up, it not only destroys her inner peace but also can cause physical illness. Bitterness defiles all those it touches, starting with the one who is bitter, but extending to other relationships (see Heb. 12:15 above). Furthermore, the one embittered becomes enslaved to the person toward whom that bitterness is directed.
Ruth is a prime example of one who refused bitterness. She lost her familiar homeland, her language, the religion in which she had been reared, the freedoms of citizenship, and the familial network in which she had lived all her life. She made new commitments, assumed new responsibilities, and that within a land in which she was considered an alien and enemy. Yet her faith enabled her to move forward against overwhelming adversity and thus to experience the amazing providence of Yahweh, the God of Israel. Ruth paid a great price. She did indeed suffer hurt and hardship, but she was rewarded for her faithfulness by being part of the lineage of the Messiah. Naomi, on the other hand, returned to a familiar land and people and once again found herself under the protection of Yahweh. She did lose a husband and two sons, but she gained an incomparable daughter-in-law (Ruth 4:15) whose loving devotion became a model unto the generations (Ruth 1:16-17). She went through a cycle of bitterness (Ruth 1:20-21), but through her faith Naomi was cleansed from bitterness and restored to a right relationship with the Lord and others. She, too, experienced again joy and usefulness as she looked beyond her circumstances and said “no” to bitterness and “yes” to God’s sovereign grace and plan for her life (Ruth 4:13–17).
Bitterness can have far-reaching, long-lasting, and self-destructive effects. A bitter woman must first turn to Christ (Rom. 5:8–10). Once she has accepted His forgiveness, then she is not only able but also commanded to forgive others (Matt. 6:12). One very practical way to do that is to replace bitterness with love (1 Cor. 13:4–7; Gal. 5:22), especially by showing love to the one who has wronged her.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)
The Woman’s Study Bible
Believers are cautioned to avoid any root of bitterness. Bitterness results from intense animosity and resentment. This bitter “root” bears bitter fruit, such as ill-will, unresolved anger, jealousy, dissension, and immorality. A plant grows slowly, but what is in the root will definitely surface in time. Bitterness may spring up in the heart of one individual, but if it is allowed to develop, it can have wide-ranging effects. The solution to bitterness and its consequences is forgiveness (“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31–32).
BITTERNESS: CHOOSING RESENTMENT
Suffering does not automatically make a person stronger or better. The way you respond to suffering determines whether that hurt makes you better or bitter.
God has provided His grace to soothe in times of hurting. Refusing that grace creates an inner environment where bitterness can grow. Every woman at some point in her life experiences being wronged by another. She then chooses either to forgive or to dwell upon the wrongdoing until she becomes bitter. To be bitter is a choice to be faced by every woman. When a root of bitterness springs up, it not only destroys her inner peace but also can cause physical illness. Bitterness defiles all those it touches, starting with the one who is bitter, but extending to other relationships (see Heb. 12:15 above). Furthermore, the one embittered becomes enslaved to the person toward whom that bitterness is directed.
Ruth is a prime example of one who refused bitterness. She lost her familiar homeland, her language, the religion in which she had been reared, the freedoms of citizenship, and the familial network in which she had lived all her life. She made new commitments, assumed new responsibilities, and that within a land in which she was considered an alien and enemy. Yet her faith enabled her to move forward against overwhelming adversity and thus to experience the amazing providence of Yahweh, the God of Israel. Ruth paid a great price. She did indeed suffer hurt and hardship, but she was rewarded for her faithfulness by being part of the lineage of the Messiah. Naomi, on the other hand, returned to a familiar land and people and once again found herself under the protection of Yahweh. She did lose a husband and two sons, but she gained an incomparable daughter-in-law (Ruth 4:15) whose loving devotion became a model unto the generations (Ruth 1:16-17). She went through a cycle of bitterness (Ruth 1:20-21), but through her faith Naomi was cleansed from bitterness and restored to a right relationship with the Lord and others. She, too, experienced again joy and usefulness as she looked beyond her circumstances and said “no” to bitterness and “yes” to God’s sovereign grace and plan for her life (Ruth 4:13–17).
Bitterness can have far-reaching, long-lasting, and self-destructive effects. A bitter woman must first turn to Christ (Rom. 5:8–10). Once she has accepted His forgiveness, then she is not only able but also commanded to forgive others (Matt. 6:12). One very practical way to do that is to replace bitterness with love (1 Cor. 13:4–7; Gal. 5:22), especially by showing love to the one who has wronged her.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)
The Woman’s Study Bible
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