Are You a Bitter Betty or Billy?

   

     Bitterness is a tricky thing.  Even as a Christian, its easy to SAY that we will not let bitterness become a part of us, but its another thing to not let it happen because if we don’t guard our hearts, it can seep in like poison.

Recently I ran across an article that discussed the affects of arsenic poisoning.  Arsenic exposure can happen slowly and in various ways, through as simple as contaminated water over a long period of time.  Even the slightest contamination can have an affect on your body and you may not even realize it until the symptoms are severe.

Hebrews 12:15  See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Symptoms of arsenic slow poisoning begin with headaches, confusion, severe diarrhea, and drowsiness. As the poisoning develops, convulsions and changes in fingernail pigmentation may occur.  When the poisoning becomes acute, symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, blood in the urine, cramping muscles, hair loss, stomach pain, and more convulsions. The organs of the body that are usually affected by arsenic poisoning are the lungs, skin, kidneys, and liver.  The final result of arsenic poisoning is coma and death.

     These are tough times and sometimes in tough times, even Christians do not respond correctly to the things that happen to us. There is a progression that ultimately leads to a root of bitterness…and it is almost always in this order: HURT must be dealt with Scripturally or it will become ANGER. Anger must be dealt with Scripturally or it will become BITTERNESS.
Hurt that is resolved in response to the truth of God’s Word will never become anger. Failure to resolve hurt by God’s grace will result in anger. When anger is not resolved, the next step is bitterness.

     Like arsenic, exposure to bitterness or things that can make us bitter may be subtle. We may dismiss it as something minor, or feeling caused by something else.  We may simply dismiss it as “having a bad day”.   When we make excuses or justify feelings toward something or someone, we can open the door even more to the enemy to contaminate us further. 

I have been guilty of this in my life on several occasions.  Id like to say I catch those things quickly, I sure try, but there have been things I have allowed to seep in and slowly begin to poison my system.  As it begins to poison us, it comes out in our actions and our words. As it comes out in actions or words, it is now no longer contaminating just you, but your atmosphere and those around you.  It can become like a contagious disease infecting those not recognizing the spewing venom as often it comes out in disguise because it gets mislabeled or justified.

 I’m so incredibly thankful for my husband and my best friends who have called me out in love at times when I have struggled because they love me enough not  want that poison to continue to do damage to me, if they can help it.  I’m also thankful that I’ve listened to them and to the convictions of the Holy Spirit, who will let us know when we have gotten into this kind of area, but we have to be willing to listen.

     The trick can be finding the root or the cause of the bitterness in your life.  To do this, it’s important to be honest with yourself.  Without honesty, it only turns into pointless digging and wasted energy.

Ephesians 4:31-32

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Many times the fruit of the root of bitterness is inadvertently directed toward God, blaming God, and even taking it out on Him by forsaking Church, the Bible, Prayer, fellowship and service. I cannot tell you the times I have heard of how people got out of Church and away from the Lord all the while justifying their actions not realizing they took it out on the Lord.

Some of the common roots of bitterness would include, but are not limited to:  Deception, depression, division, distraction, delirium,  and bitterness can determine your destiny because you become bound in its chains and you are not walking in freedom.  The longer we allow bitterness to fester, the more damage it will do.  Bitterness will undoubtedly condemn, confuse and control a Christian.  If you are bitter, you will not get better until you deal with it.  Satan will do what he can to entice you to feel justified in your bitterness, but then you are imprisoned and he is holding the key.  Are you a Bitter Betty or Bitter Billy?……It is a choice.  I hope you will choose to walk in freedom instead.

Romans 12:9-21

Love in Action

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.