Most of us have probably been bitter at some point in our lives. I’m thinking that it’s probably Cain of the Bible who first suffered from a disastrous case of bitterness.
Horrifyingly, Cain’s bitterness led him to murder his own brother. To make matters worse, his brother was completely innocent. Cain became angry because God looked with favor on Abel’s offering, not Cain’s.
Instead of just quickly correcting his
mistake by asking for God’s forgiveness, Cain chose to be bitter. An idiotic choice. He paid for it by becoming a miserable nomad for the rest of his life.
Envy, anger, and bitterness made Cain a murderer. That’s an ominous warning to all of us. Bitterness can lead not only to physical death but also death to our peace of mind, wisdom, joy, and contentment.
Bitterness breeds negativity, depression, instability in our thinking and emotions. It creates a plethora of illnesses which can destabilize and deplete us. Even kill us. Bitterness literally eats us up.
What is the antidote, then, to bitterness? Here are a few crucial things we should do.
First and foremost — we must confess our bitterness to God. We must ask forgiveness for all the other things we may be guilty of because of our bitterness – like anger, envy, gossip and slander (close cousins of bitterness); lying and exaggerating (to destroy the reputation of people we are bitter against); creating intrigues, division, strife (because we want people to side with us); plus all manner of malice, sabotage, and negative talk.
Second, in obedience to God, we must forgive the people we’re bitter against. Be specific. Don’t gloss over the pain they inflicted on you. Don’t make excuses for them either. Just tell God all the dreadful, painful things you’re forgiving them for.
Forgive — even if they’ve not asked for your forgiveness; even if they say they’ve done nothing wrong. You’ll be free. While they’ll continue to simmer in their sins.
Third, leave the vengeance part to Him. This, for me, is the easiest thing to do.
We must remember that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present, and all-just. He knows exactly what kind of wrong was done to us. He even knows who sabotaged us, stabbed us in the back — even if we are totally clueless about who they are and what they did!
He knows exactly what kind of vengeance must be inflicted on those who wronged us. His punishment, His discipline, are perfectly calibrated.
He has absolute power to avenge us — anytime, anywhere. Only He has the power to apply perfect justice.
So whether it’s your driver who ran off with your best watch; or your houseboy who molested your son; or depraved boys who gang-raped your daughter; or corrupt politicians and greedy businessmen who are inflicting untold suffering on our poor countrymen; or Supreme Court justices who’ve sold themselves out — all of them will pay. One day, they will pay. It’s guaranteed. Because God is all-just.
The consequences will most probably damage their own children, and generations after them.
I believe that even now, God is already exacting His vengeance on them. Their suffering may not be visible to us because it’s internal, emotional, or simply hidden. But their punishment is on-going and will definitely be more excruciating than the vengeance of man.
I knew this powerful man in government who enriched himself by taking bribes from the contractors he dealt with. He had a fleet of expensive cars, so many houses, properties, rare collectibles, etc. His greed was insatiable. He seemed unstoppable.
Until one day, one of his children became critically ill, had to undergo very expensive brain surgery — which failed. Then one of his daughters who was studying abroad was sexually molested, possibly raped, in a drug party. Then his wife would gamble away millions in one night, just to drown her misery.
I don’t really know what happened after that. We lost touch. But I saw what the consequences did to him. It broke him. I just hope that he came to his senses before it was too late.
One thing we can be sure of — wealth, power or fame which are wrongly attained, will always bring deep, deep sorrow. Always.
That’s why if you were wronged in any way, God commands us: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19). That’s one of the most powerful promises in the Bible.
Furthermore, He warns us,
“It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31) No one can punish, no one can discipline people, the way God can.
NO ONE gets off God’s hook.
