Fruit Has a Root – Part One

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 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, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4: 30 – 32

        The subject of this post is one on which I was reluctant to write until I heard a speaker refer to it as the most common of sins among Christians. If it is, it is expedient to deal with it and gain a victory over it. What is it? It is bitterness.

        Do you know any bitter believers?  Have you ever been bitter?  Are you presently harboring any bitterness?

        In the New Testament the word comes from the Greek word “pikria.” It refers to a person who has become cynical, caustic, sarcastic, hostile, or resentful. It manifests itself by the person becoming negative, unhappy, and critical. Does that remind you of anyone?

        We become bitter when we feel God, circumstances, or someone has wronged us, and we can’t do anything about it. We get angry and refuse to forgive. By harboring this anger, we become bitter. Dwelling on this past injustice, we develop a negative and critical outlook. Soon everything and everyone seems wrong and worth criticizing. Bitter people build a mental dossier on the failings of others. This outlook causes the bitter person to look for little things about which to make snide, cutting comments, sarcastic remarks, and unkind statements.

        Often bitterness is felt toward God. When it is, most frequently it is expressed indirectly. Maybe as a child something traumatic happened that you prayed would not happen. Anger toward God arose. Over a period of time bitterness sprouted. It is hard to get your hands on God and exercise vengeance against Him. Therefore, the church becomes the target. Maybe it is even God Himself and the reaction of bitterness is expressed in a denial of His existence.  

        The AKJ translates Hebrews 12: 15 as follows: “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.”

        Did you catch who is troubled by the root of bitterness? “You.” Bitterness deteriorates the personality, destroys healthy emotions,  and drains spiritual vitality. has hurtful or negative experiences. It is up to the individual as to how to react. 

        You are a marionette on the strings of the person with whom you are bitter. Your every action is manipulated by the one who is the object of your bitterness. Don’t let any person be your master.

        There are two different and dissimilar Greek words in the text, both of which are translated “forgiveness.”  One refers to releasing of charges against a person and exempting that one from punishment.  The other speaks of aggressive action to regain the heart of the adversary. It means to show grace to a person. To give them unmerited favor. Both meanings are contained in what Christ did for us.