Bitterness a Root With a Bitter Fruit – Part Two
Ephesians 4: 30 – 32
How well do you deal with bitterness? Consider what it does to you. You are instructed, “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. (Hebrews 12: 15)
The operative diagnostic word is “you.” Bitterness deteriorates the personality, destroys healthy emotions, and drains spiritual vitality. Notice that all the negative things it does, it does in the life of the bitter person, not the person with whom one is bitter. It is self-destructive.
The object of your bitterness may be miles away or even dead. Nevertheless, they hold you as much of a slave as those lorded over by Egyptian slave masters. You are a puppet of the object of your bitterness, be it God or a person.
Perhaps you have been wrong, however bitterness will not rectify the wrong.
There is an ageless truth worth committing to memory. “Bitterness does more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to the one on which it is poured.” Bitterness is self-imposed punishment.
Hebrews 12:15 shouts a proper warning: “Watch out that no bitterness take root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives.”
Did you note the operative expression, “deep trouble.” For who – – – you. Such is not just spiritual guilt, but physical self imposed physical problems.
Science has opened the door of understanding regarding the physical impact of mind over body known as the “psyche,” to produce various reactions in the body, known as the “soma.” By combining the word for mind and the one for body, we get our term “psychosomatic.” It speaks of the influence of the mind over the body. Invisible emotions such as bitterness can produce significant and serious changes in the body.
Bitterness is only one of several negative attitudes that bring widespread changes in a life. There are three obvious influences. Bitterness, along with these other negative attitudes, can influence blood flow to an organ, the secretion of glands, and a change in muscle tension.
An illustration of how an emotion can influence a person is the result of being embarrassed and the face flushes red.
Obviously, embarrassment illustrates a change in blood flow. Have you ever seen an embarrassed person’s face become red? The emotion did it.
The reverse of the principle regarding bitterness can influence your body significantly by forgiving and burying bitterness with the Lord’s help. Ask Him.