The Poison of Bitterness by Al Diestelkamp (AlDiestel@aol.com)
Bitterness is an evil that can develop and grow within a person
almost unbeknownst to him. I am convinced that it is a tool that
Satan uses to entrap even the very ones who have worked hard at
ridding their lives of many other sins.
The apostle Peter spoke of bitterness as a poison when rebuking
the former sorcerer. He said, "I see that you are poisoned
by bitterness" (Ac. 8:23).
Simon's condition was not exclusive to him. None of us are immune
to its venom. Husbands are warned against being bitter toward
their wives (Col. 3:19). Though the inspired writer did not specifically
mention the possibility, I have no doubt that wives can develop
bitterness toward their husbands. Certainly, if a father fails
to heed the apostle's instructions to avoid discouraging his children
by provoking them to wrath (Col. 3:21), they will likely develop
bitterness toward him.
Preachers are prime candidates for this poisonous condition. Though
most preachers are treated well by the brethren, occasionally
they are not. Unreasonable expectations of the preacher and/or
his family can cause resentment, which, if he is not careful,
will lead to bitterness. Or a preacher may expect brethren to
live up to his expectations, and when they don't, he gets discouraged.
Many able men have lost their influence, some even losing their
faith, after being overcome with bitterness toward the brethren.
The elderly (and those approaching old age) seem to be especially
susceptible to bitterness. Perhaps the loss of energy, diminished
capacities, health problems and the perception (real or imagined)
that the younger generation doesn't appreciate us, opens the door
to bitterness.
Bitterness is the state of being "sharp and disagreeable;
harsh; severe; piercing" (Webster's Collegiate Dictionary).
It can be brought on by a number of circumstances, including:
discouragement, hopelessness, envy and jealousy.
The New Testament has several things to say about this attitude:
1. It needs to be "put away" (Eph. 4:2532). The apostle
Paul lists it among many other sins, and among those that "grieve
the Holy Spirit."
2. It is connected with "cursing" (Rom. 3:9-18). Christians
who would never curse verbally may be guilty of "virtual
cursing" by their display of bitterness. This may be only
in thought, but if unchecked will eventually manifest itself in
harshness.
3. It is a spiritual "poison" (Ac. 8:18-23). As already
noted, Simon, who in becoming a Christian had to repent of his
sorcery, was told that his bitterness was his poison that had
him "hound by iniquity." Suddenly without the attention
of the masses, perhaps he became jealous of the apostles power
to convey the Holy Spirit by the laying on of their hands.
4. It can "spring up" unannounced (Heb. 12:12-17). Read
these verses and note how the Hebrew writer tells us that we ought
to be "looking carefully…lest any root of bitterness
springing up cause trouble..." (v. 15). If unchecked it can
take hold of us so powerfully that, like Esau, we might not find
place for repentance, even if we want to.
It's one thing to identify a problem, and another to provide a
remedy. By applying the scriptures I believe we can beat this
villain on two fronts:
First, we should help prevent it in others by avoiding what promotes
it. For instance, a husband's bitterness can be lessened by the
wife's attitudes and behavior (Eph. 5:25,28, 33a). At the same
time a wife's bitterness may be avoided if the husband will treat
her as God instructs (Eph. 5:9.2,33h). Parents' bitterness can
be minimized if children will obey (Eph. 6:1-3), and children
will be less likely to become bitter if fathers will listen to
God (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21).
All Christians should make a concerted effort not to be a discouragement
to others. The younger Christians, in their enthusiasm and zeal
must not leave the older generation behind. They need to understand
that "change" (even though it is within authority) is
unsettling to the elderly. Bring them along gently.
Older Christians need to accept what they know in their hearts
that change is inevitable, and as long as it is scriptural, it
may even be desirable. Don't "quench the spirit" of
the youth lest they become bitter.
You can help a preacher avoid the pitfall of bitterness by being
an encouragement to him in his efforts to teach the lost and edify
the saints. Treat him as the brother he is, rather than an employee
of the church who can be hired and fired at will.
Knowing that envy and jealousy promote bitterness, we should avoid
flaunting power, possessions, or any other advantage we have over
others.
Secondly, we must fight bitterness in ourselves by actively resisting
it. To borrow a phrase from Barney Fife, "Nip it in the bud!"
Treat it like any other temptation. Start by recognizing Satan
as the source of bitter attitudes.
When the symptoms appear, study and meditate on the scriptures
instead of having a "pity-party."
Be willing to rejoice with those who are blessed more than you--replace
envy with joy. And most of all, pray for help.
Bitterness has the potential of consuming a person and draining
him of his spirituality, and oh, how Satan enjoys that!
Traditions of Men by Andrew Mitchell (andrewm@wnclink.com)
A young married lady was fixing a fancy ham dinner for her husband.
As she was about to place the ham into the oven she took a knife
and cut off the end of the ham. Her husband asked, "Why did
you cut the end off of the ham?" She replied, "I don't
know; that's the way mamma always did it." Later, at the
family reunion the young couple asked mother why she always cut
off the end of the ham. She answered, "That's the way mamma
always did it." They went to grandmother and asked her why
she cut off the end of her hams. She likewise replied, "That's
the way mamma always did it." They then found great-grandmother
who was still living at the time, and they asked her why she always
cut the ham's end off. To which she said, "I cut the end
of the ham off because my pan was too small!"
Do not blindly follow your parents without question. It's harmless
when it comes to ham, but it can be detrimental in spiritual matters.
Do what the young lady did, and question where your religious
practices originated. Who started it? Did it come from just something
passed down, or did it come from the scriptures?
A tradition is simply something that has been "handed down".
There are things that have been "handed down" (tradition)
by God (2 Thes. 2:15), and there are things that have been "handed
down" by men. We are to "hold firmly to the "traditions"
of God and the apostles, given through the Word (1 Cor. 11:2).
Traditions of men are different. They are not necessarily bad
in and of themselves. They become bad when they conflict with
God's Holy Word (Mk. 7:8), or when man-made traditions are treated
as if they are from God. "But in vain they do worship me,
teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:9).
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain
deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the
world, and not after Christ" (Col. 2:8).
First Things First - Author Unknown (via The Beacon)
When a boy gets up at four o'clock in the morning to deliver papers,
most people say he is a go-getter. If the someone at the church
should ask the same boy to get up at four o'clock to do some work
for the Lord, they would say: "That's asking too much of
the boy."
If a woman spends eight hours away from her home working in a
factory or if she works in her garden, she is called an energetic
wife. If, however, she is willing to do the same thing for the
Lord, they say, "Religion has gone to her head."
If one ties himself down to making payments of $100 each week
for a long period of time on an item for personal enjoyment, he
pays willingly. But, if that same person placed that much in the
offering plate, many people would say he is crazy.
This is a crazy world indeed, where first things come last and
last things come first!
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This Month's Bible Reading: Deuteronomy
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BIBLE INSIGHT is published for the members of,
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Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
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