Bitterness can fester like a wound. It starts small and over time can become so large it cannot be handled. Bitterness can destroy friendships, marriages and even a relationship with God. Albert Einstein says compounding interest is the most powerful force in the universe, I would say bitterness has to be a close second.
In the great classic Moby Dick by Herman Melville we see what bitterness can do to man. Captain Ahab here is issuing a rally to his men to join him in killing Moby Dick, the whale that took his leg earlier in life. This ultimately leads to his death by the hands of the great white whale. We see though that in general bitterness festers over time. It starts with a sin committed against us which we never make peace with. Below is a snippet from Moby Dick
"...it was Moby Dick that dismasted me....Then tossing both arms, with measureless imprecations he shouted out: "Aye, aye! and I'll chase him round Good Hope, and round the horn, and round the norway maelstrom, and round perdition's flames before I give him up."
Some of you who have been seriously wronged by others may say “So what I hate that jerk (or whatever is your favorite expletive).” Some of you may be saying to yourself “You know what self (or whatever you call yourself), I don’t want to make peace with so and so.” Or the classic “They hurt me!” Is reconciliation worth it? Can’t I just give him the right hand of fellowship – right into his jaw? Will my bitterness really turn into something bad? I totally agree with you and wonder the same things at times! Also yes, you are probably right, the person you don’t like probably is a jerk, but so are you at times.
So the question now should be: Why should I make peace with someone who only hurts me? Why should I be nice to anyone who is stubborn, stuck up, rude and being mean to me? Why should I care about someone who doesn’t care for me?
The answer is very simply found in Jesus
Jesus came to make us right with Him even though we were the ones who wrecked the relationship first! We offended Him and then He came as a man, lived without sin, and died on the cross in our place. He took the death we deserved for our sin. He did this so we could be reconciled to Him. He wants a relationship with us and wants to give us new life. I ran from him, he came for me. I cussed him out and gave him nothing, yet he blessed me and gave me his life. I did not show him any love, but he showed me His love for me by dying for me.
I don’t deserve this forgiveness and it is very debilitating to my bitterness toward others. How can I, who have been forgiven and loved while being a jerk, now turn around and refuse forgiveness and love to someone who sinned against me?
We can restore our broken relationships and be freed of our bitterness because Jesus already reconciled us to Himself. In other words, I want to seek reconciliation with others because Jesus sought it with me.
Today – consider all that Jesus had done for you – and let his goodness to you absorb your bitterness for those who have wronged you.
