Bitterness

December 5, 2004

Introduction

I do want to express my appreciation to all who turned in response cards Wednesday evening. This morning, I’m responding to one of those cards which requested four subject which are related: forgiveness, bitterness, love, and friendship. Not that we will cover all of these with much detail this morning, but they are obviously related. We concentrate our thoughts on the subject of bitterness.

Body

I. The problem of bitterness.

A. The Hebrew writer addresses the problem.

(Heb 12:14-15 NKJV) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: {15} looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

1. Like a small root that grows into a great tree,

2. Bitterness often starts from an injustice suffered, whether real or imaginary.

a. Esau is mentioned in the context of the verse we are studying.

(Heb 12:16-17 NKJV) lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. {17} For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

b. Esau’s bitterness quickly turned to plans of murder.

3. Bitterness can defile many.

(Gen 27:41 NKJV) So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob."

a. Many will listen to the complaints of others and side with the one who has been wronged.

b. Having been wronged does not make it right for us to become bitter. We need instead to forgive.

B. Paul also speaks of bitterness.

1. He associates bitterness with murder and misery.

(Rom 3:14-17 NKJV) "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness." {15} "Their feet are swift to shed blood; {16} Destruction and misery are in their ways; {17} And the way of peace they have not known."

2. Paul speaks of bitterness as something we have control over.

(Eph 4:31-32 NKJV) Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. {32} And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

II. What produces bitterness? -- being wronged by someone.

A. Esau had been wronged by Jacob.

1. He let his bitterness separate him from his brother for 20 years.

2. He finally forgave and the two were united.

(Gen 33:1-4 NKJV) Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. {2} And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last. {3} Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. {4} But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

B. The father forgave the prodigal son.

(Luke 15:20-22 NKJV) "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. {21} "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' {22} "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. (23) 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; (24) 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.

1. The beauty is the father’s love and forgiveness.

2. The sadness is the older brother’s bitterness.

(Luke 15:25-32 NKJV) "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. {26} "So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. {27} "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.' {28} "But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. {29} "So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. {30} 'But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' {31} "And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. {32} 'It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'"

III. We are to handle bitterness.

A. Our control over bitterness is called forgiveness.

B. It is also called love.

(1 Cor 13:4-7 NKJV) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; {5} does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; {6} does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; {7} bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

· bitterness springs up in our heart and overshadows even our deepest Christian relationships.

· A “bitter root” comes when we allow disappointment to grow into resentment, or

· when we nurse grudges over past hurts.

· Bitterness brings with it jealousy, dissension, and various forms of sin.

Conclusion

I. We must rule over bitterness and anything that leads to it.

II. We must have a forgiving spirit.

III. Have you been forgiven by God?

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