Intro: E Stanley Jones, Readers Digest Dec 1981.
A rattlesnake, if cornered will sometimes become so angry it will bite itself. That is exactly what the harboring of hate and resentment against others is-a biting of oneself. We think that we are harming others in holding these spites, hates, but the deeper harm is to ourselves.
This Morning we are going to look into the at three passages in the Word and the place that anger and bitterness played in the lives of some people.
1. Ruth 1:20-21
In Ruth 1 begins the wonderful story of loss and redemption in the life of 1 woman named Ruth. Chapter 1 begins by telling us there was a famine in the land, and a man named Elimelech took his wife and 2 sons out of Israel to a land with food. while there, his 2 sons married. Life was good. It was good until about the 10th year. Her husband dies, her 2 sons died. We don’t really know the reason and I suppose it really doesn’t matter -this woman, we know her as Naomi, had lost 3 important people in her life. Death had claimed those she loved.
Naomi was blessed in some ways because she had 2 daughter’s In law Unfortunately in Naomi’s day to own land, or to have a job a person must have been of the male gender and having 2 more woman in her life really didn’t help much. Her entire life fell apart. She was in a foreign country, her family was dead , and now the time had come to return home. She returns home with Ruth the 1 daughter law who pledged to be by her side. The whole town welcomed them and was stirred by there return. What did Naomi say?
(Read 1:20-21).
1. Naomi says her life is very bitter.
2. She blames God for her circumstances
3. She feels there is no goodness, only misfortune in her life.
ILL: Someone has said. A neighbour of mine was bit by a stray rabid dog. I went to see how he was and found him writing furiously.
I told him rabies could be cured and he didn’t Have to worry about a will.
He said, Will, What will?
I’m making a list of people I’m going to bite. Anger and Bitterness will do just that cause us to bite the ones we have not forgiven.
2. 1 Samuel 1:10-15.
Our second Bible character focuses on a woman whose name is Hannah.
1Samuel 1 records that she is a woman caught in a tough situation. She is one of 2 wives in a relationship with a man who by all accounts is a good and godly man. He is a wonderful supportive husband. Verse 2 tells us that the other wife had children year after year and was a virtual baby factory and yet Hannah had no children. Not only that but the rival wife would taunt her and irritate her. This situation went on year after year after year. Hannah was trapped. Children surrounded her, yet none of them was her own. She had to deal with this other woman on a daily basis. The situation did not improve as time went on. One year, while the family worshipped, Hannah must have just hit rock bottom and she began to pray to the Lord. What did she pray?
(read 1samuel 1:10-15).
1. Hannah was bitter down to her soul.
2. She is angry about her situation
3. She feels that god can save her if she is willing.
3. 1Sam 18-19 and 18:6-11.
Chapters 18 and 19 of 1 sam give us the beginning of the end of the 1rst king of Israel. His name was Saul. And he was chosen as the 1rst king. Though he is never cast in a good light. King Saul allowed a young man named David to fight the philistines and gave him task after task, which he did well. David prospered in everything he attempted to do. The situation was becoming unbearable for Saul. This man David was becoming popular and a hero. What did Saul do? Read 1 Sam 18:6-11.
1. Saul became so angry that it turned to bitterness.
2. Other negative emotions started to torment Saul.
3. Saul took action to Kill David.
A. Bitterness and Anger.
We are all familiar with emotions, but they are sometimes difficult to define.
Emotions deal with that feeling part of life and are also connecting with the thinking part of life. (since thinking some thoughts produce positive or negative emotions). Canadian and American people are both very feeling oriented. Wouldn’t you agree? Have you ever seen the diet Cole commercial that says “If it feels good do it”. Many times it is feelings that lead us into certain jobs or even marriages. Feelings change. And so do our jobs. And to day marriage partners change as well. We come to church only when we feel like it, we pray only when we feel we need to, Many times our lives are driven and controlled by our emotions and their effects on our lives.
This morning we want to deal Bitterness and anger. Bitterness is just anger over a long period of time that has been allowed to grow. The word bitterness in the Bible comes from a word that means bitter, gall, , a bitter root that produces bitter fruit. Anger comes from a word that means agitation of the soul, a violent emotion, wrath. The thing about emotions is they also effect your body , especially anger and bitterness. Muscle tension, heart racing, blood pressure, loss of sleep, blood sugar, nausea, diarrhea, and other digestive malfunctions, are associated with these emotions. These negative emotions creep into every aspect of our lives and they change us. I guess there’s not really much to say about bitterness and anger other than: are you bitter or angry? Is there a situation in your life that has made you bitter or angry ? Maybe it’s family. Family issues and relations can bring the worst emotions in us. Is a key relationship in your family full of bitterness? Maybe it’s work related? Nothing can ruin your day faster or more completely than a job you hate! Whatever it is are you dealing with anger and bitterness? Or perhaps the better questions is How do we deal with bitterness and anger?
B. Dealing With Bitterness And Anger. (Eph 4:30-31)
The Bible is our guide in this life. Do you believe this statement? I hope you do. No other self help book or guru journal will help you in this
life like the Word of God! Forget all the psychobabble you have ever heard… We are looking at God’s remedy for bitterness and anger!! He ought to know how to deal with these, after all He created the human being including the emotions what does God say? Read Eph 4:30-32.
Paul is instructing on how not to grieve God. One of the things that grieves the Spirit of God inside us is when we hold onto these negative emotions and allow them to dictate our actions and our Words. Verse 31 Commands us This is not a suggestions to rid ourselves of bitterness rage, anger, fighting, slander, and malice. That pretty much covers it doesn’t it? Yet how do we do that?
Verse 32 Tells us very plainly how t get rid of bitterness and anger “Let go of it”. That 3 Word sentence is another way of saying FORGIVE. Start showing Kindness and compassion to that person you hate and you will being to see your bitter root dry up. The reason we have bitterness in our lives is that we choose to hang onto it through the years. Paul Commands us let it Go!!.
ILL:
One day, 2 monks were walking through the countryside. They were on their way to another village to help bring in the crops. As they walked they spied an old woman sitting at the edge of a river. She was upset because there was no bridge, and she could not get across on her own. The first monk kindly offered we will carry you across if you would like? Thank you she said gracefully accepting their help. So the 2 men joined hands lifted her between them and carried her across the river. When they got to the other side, they set her down, and she went on her way. After they has walked another mile or two, the other monk began to complain. Look at my cloths he said. They are filthy from carrying that woman across the river. And my back still hurts from lifting her! I can fell it stiffing up. The first monk just smiled and nodded his head. A few more miles up the road the second monk griped again My back is hurting me so badly, and it’s all because we had to carry that silly woman across the river. I can’t go any farther because of the pain. The first monk looked down at his partner, now lying on the ground moaning. Have you wondered why I’m not complaining he asked? Your back hurts because you are still carrying the woman. But I set her down 5 miles ago.
That is what many do in dealing with their families we are like the 2nd monk who can’t let go . We hold the pain if the past over our loved ones heads like a club or we remind them everyone and a while when we want to get the upper hand, of the burden we still carry because of something they did years ago.
CONCL:
1. The story of Naomi and Ruth ends with the salvation of their family by a family redeemer. Naomi sea’s the birth of a grandson named Obed who was the father of a man named Jesse who was the father of King David.
2. Hannah was able to pour out her bitterness to the Lord and she in fact conceived a son and dedicated Him to the Lord. His name was Samuel and he was one of the greatest prophets in the history of Israel.
3. Saul, was unable to let his bitterness and anger go, and he died a bitter man.
Prayer for release of bitterness.
Anger
Other negative emotions.
