Overcoming The Bitter Root

Our sermon this morning is entitled, “Overcoming the Bitter Root.” Bitterness can be defined as harboring resentment and unforgiveness in our heart toward another person. Bitterness is also defined as, “extreme enmity,” “a grudge,” or “hatred.”(1) The meaning of the word bitter itself is, “sharp or biting to the taste.”(2) Therefore, when we harbor bitterness in our life it is like eating from a “bitter root,” and when we partake of bitterness we can feel the bite and the sharpness in our heart.

The bitter root of bitterness is extremely deadly and poisonous. Just listen to the many descriptive definitions of the word bitter: “Sharp to the feeling; piercing; painful; that makes to [hurt]; as a bitter cold day or a bitter blast; painful to the mind; calamitous; afflicted; distressed; mournful; and expressive of misery.”(3) Bitterness is so destructive to our life, and yet many of us hold on to it like it is all that we have.

Bitterness is the result of not forgiving someone whom you feel has hurt or wronged you. It comes from clinging to bad memories, or bad experiences, from the past and not letting them go. Many times bitterness gives rise to vengeance. We harbor a grudge against another person and we refuse to speak to him, thinking that we are getting back at that individual; but in reality, the only one whom we are hurting is ourselves, for bitterness eats at our heart and soul like a deadly cancer. It has been said, “Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”(4)

The only cure for the poison of bitterness is forgiveness. Even so, C. S. Lewis commented, “Everyone says that forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.”(5) This morning, we will see that forgiveness is not just an idea, but a necessity in overcoming the chains of bitterness; and we are going to take a close look at Romans 12:17-21, and elaborate on the necessity of forgiveness.

There are “five keys” we need to comprehend and grasp in order to be set free from the pain of bitterness through forgiveness. These five keys are actually “five commitments” that we need to make before God. So, if you are eagerly awaiting the secret to overcoming that gnawing sensation you have from harboring ill and bitter feelings about someone, then let’s dig into God’s Word!

The Commitment to Not Be Vindictive (v. 17)

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

The first commitment in overcoming bitterness is “the commitment to not be vindictive.” In Proverbs 24:29, we are admonished, “Do not say, ‘I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work’.” So, are there any good reasons why we shouldn’t take revenge? Well, there are actually “three” very important ones.

The “first reason” is found in 1 Peter 3:9, which says, “[Do not] return evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” The first reason why we should refrain from vengeance is because God doesn’t seek revenge on us. Rather, to those of us who have sought forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ, we are called to receive a blessing from God, not His vengeance and wrath. So, we should return a blessing to others instead of vengeance, because God’s desire is to bless us.

The “second reason” why we should refrain from vengeance is because the bitter feelings associated with the desire to take revenge can result in great spiritual and emotional turmoil.

A little boy was sitting on a park bench in obvious pain. A man walking by asked him what was wrong and the young boy said, “I’m sitting on a bumble bee.” The man urgently asked, “Then why don’t you get up?” The boy replied, “Because I figure I’m hurting him more than he is hurting me!”

How many of us handle forgiveness like this little boy? We endure pain for the sadistic satisfaction of believing that we are hurting someone else more than they are hurting us. When we get off the bench of unforgiveness, both parties can begin to realize relief from their pain.(6)

The “third reason” why we should refrain from vengeance is found in Matthew 5:23-24, which says, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

In reference to these verses, Jay Adams says, “It seems clear that Christ considered an unreconciled condition between brethren a hindrance to the proper exercise of worship. For this reason He stressed the priority of reconciliation over worship. The priority is expressed in terms of urgency.”(7) If we have bitter feelings toward a brother or sister in Christ then we can’t worship the Lord properly until we are released of those ill feelings; therefore, vengeance is a barrier to worship.