Sally was born blind and was very happy as a baby. It wasn't until she started school, that she realized something was missing in her life. Soon she began to grow angry and as she grew, her anger turned to rage. Except for her family, Sally grew up friendless, withdrawn and alone with her animosity.
One day she met a young man, named Billy. He showed her friendship, compassion and understanding. It wasn't long before Sally was feeling the first pangs of love, and in a very short time, the two seemed to have fallen in love.
Sally and Billy spent time talking and writing love notes to one another. They also took long walks, and began sharing their hopes and dreams. Billy just wanted to marry Sally, but she would always say, "If only I could see the world, then I would marry you!"
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. As doctors pulled the bandages back from her eyes, Sally realized she could see everything including her boyfriend. Billy, with love and excitement, took her hand and asked, "Sally, now that you can see the world, will you marry me?"
Sally was shocked when she concluded that Billy, was also blind and quickly she refused to marry him. Billy's heart was broken as he walked away from Sally, with tears streaming down his face.
At home, he wrote Sally one last note, "Please, my darling, take good care of my eyes! "
Bitterness is characterized by intense antagonism or hostility. God's Word teaches us to "rid ourselves of all bitterness, rage and anger along with every form of malice." Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice... Ephesians 4:31 It goes on to tell us how to deal with bitterness and its fruits; And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
When we allow or succumb to bitterness, we can be sure it will rule in our hearts. It brings upon ourselves a spirit that refuses any kind of reconciliation. Sally may have seemed to have true feelings of love for Billy, but any "real love" was strangled by the roots of bitterness that entwined her heart and soul. Her brash self-absorption left no room for anything except, the need to make her grievances known to everyone!
This lead to her spirit of malice and intense feelings of hatred within, leaving her with a deliberate attempt to harm Billy. She was unable to shake her feelings and became harsh, cold, cynical and unpleasant to be around.
Bitterness has a way of sinking deep roots into the heart of man and those roots spring up often to destroy anyone in its path. Keep a check on your anger and those things that would make you bitter. 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
We must always be cognizant and aware of allowing any "bitter roots" to grow in our hearts that would have us fall short of the grace of God. God wants us to live in joy, peace and holiness -- never bitterness! Therefore, as believers we must always be alert and on guard against the danger of bitterness that would grow in our hearts.
Bitterness, my friend, is like that valueless dandelion weed, growing wild and troublesome where it is not wanted. However, like the dandelion weed, it is easy to spot! When you are angry more often than not, or when rage seems to be all that you feel inside, you are probably dealing with roots of bitterness. If you have anger or rage brewing within your heart, I would ask you to take it to the Lord Jesus immediately!