Root of Bitterness

by Terry Wane Benton

"Pursue peace with all men...lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled" (Hebrews 12:14-15).

Negative experiences must be kept in perspective. If not handled well, we can allow those negative experiences to turn into resentment and hatred, which can be a root of bitterness. Bitterness defiles us. Even though the people who dealt us a negative experience were wrong and will give an account before God, we must be careful to check our feelings toward them.

While they may not deserve your trust and your companionship anymore, do they deserve your hatred? They are still valuable souls who operate in ignorance and sinful blindness. Jesus would handle it this way: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" Ignorance is often at the root of people's envy, foolish behavior, and poor choices. Their ignorance of God, His word, and your value to God leads them to foolish actions that hurt you. They operate under the blindness of sin. They know not what they do.

Jesus would say, "Sure, they hurt me, but I still value their soul and want them to turn around because I want them to go to heaven." A root of bitterness was not allowed to spring up and defile His heart. What people do to hurt us must not be allowed to be a springboard from which we do more damage to our own hearts and souls. The hurtful experience is a challenge to your high principle of love. Do you throw love out? Do you seek to overcome the hurt by loving your enemy? Or do you let the hurt overcome your good judgment and the high principle of love that you know God wants you to hold tightly in this situation?

Will you let the hurt turn to bitterness and defile you? Or, will you pursue peace with all men, even those who do not seem to deserve it? Be cautious of letting a root of bitterness cloud your good judgment and sound principles.