The Landmine of Animosity
1 Samuel 18:1-30
* It was May 12, 1970, when Army Corporal Robert Earl Green of Purvis, MS, was killed in the Vietnam War. We were told that he stepped on a landmine. Although they sent his body home, the casket was unopened because of the damage to Bobby’s body. This is the nature of a landmine.
* Candidly, it was only this morning at about 6:30 as I began to think a challenge given to me last night that this landmine leaped out at me. Let us consider a landmine which is doing much damage in the body of Christ. More specifically, there is evidence that this landmine is being ignited among us. At first blush you may say, “Not so.” Yet, many who listen, hear, and even watch us perceive this landmine is present and stepped on regularly. For a landmine to be effective, it must be well-hidden and easily ignited. Such is the case for the landmine of animosity.
* Animosity defined is a deep-seated feeling or spirit of ill will & resentment arousing active hostility. This word comes from the Latin word ‘animus’, which denotes mind and spirit. Think of your mind and spirit being consumed with negative feelings toward someone or something.
* There are many cases of ‘animosity’ found in the Bible. It’s never pretty, good, or found in the life of someone who is sold out to the Lord. Because of his anger, Cain developed a hatred for his brother and ultimately killed him. While we may ‘say’ we are not killing anyone, the Bible teaches that everyone who hates his brother is a murderer. (1 John 3:15) The 10 brothers of Joseph held animosity in their hearts toward him for many reasons. Whether they were justified or not, to read what they put their brother through is untenable. In the case of Modecai and Haman, Haman’s animosity was so great that it ultimately consumed him & backfired on him. We can list Esau & Jacob, David & Saul, and bring the list all the way to the Pharisees and Jesus. Animosity is an ugly disease. It works like cancer. It gets a small weak place in a life and it spreads to destruction.
* For purposes of study, turn to 1 Samuel 18, and let’s see a case study of animosity in part of the story of Saul and David. (Read)
* This story could be bound and probably become a best-seller because of the deceit, lying, manipulating, and corruptness found within. It all boils down to one person being eaten up with animosity. Consider 4 thoughts.
1. The Origin of Animosity – What is its origin? In simple terms, it is found in the depravity of man, it’s our nature. Yet, to review the Biblical stories as well as observe human behavior, we discover the major reasons;
a. Jealousy – Does any among us need a lesson in the ugliness of ‘jealousy’ and ‘envy?’ Cain’s jealousy of God accepting Abel’s offering while rejecting his own, led to fatal anger. The 10 brothers of Joseph became so jealous of Jacob’s attention that they wanted to kill him.
* The jealousy of Saul toward David, led to Saul’s own son turning against him. I submit that, when embraced, jealousy is one origin for Satan’s tool of animosity. Anytime he can get a person to be jealous, he is in.
b. Unforgiveness – The reason this is on every list of problems for people is because this is a problem for people. We recognize that we need to forgive, but honestly, we don’t really ‘let go of it.’ Scripture is replete with commands to forgive, how often, and even ties our forgiveness to our forgiving. Yet, we harbor grudges, think and speak ill of others when given the chance, and we hold on to this ill will for years. It is a sad day in the family of God when brothers & sisters hang on to bitterness, resentment, and hostility for another. Here’s the question; do you hold any ill will toward anyone else? Do you know of someone who is harboring a grudge against anyone else? If so, are you a friend or one who empowers ‘unforgiveness?’
c. Pride – In the life of King Saul we see both pride and jealousy looming large. He is jealous of the women singing about ’10,000’ for David and only ‘1,000’ for him. Saul wanted to be the ‘top gun’ and desired for the credit to come to him. The same thing can be seen in the life of Haman. He was promoted by the King and strutted around for all to see and Mordecai wasn’t impressed and refused to cower. Ultimately Haman was hung on the same gallows he had built for Modecai. Pride, jealousy, self promoting & the like may cause to you being hanged by your own rope.
2. The Operation of Animosity – When trying to locate a landmine, it is always a good idea to know how it works.
a. It Controls – (Read Verse 10a) Notice that the ‘evil spirit from God took control of Saul.’ In case you are curious about this spirit, notice it does not say the ‘evil spirit of God’ because that does not exist. Turn to 1 Samuel 16:14). There is no agreement on all this verse means, but we can recall Job 1 where Satan had to get God’s permission to go after Job, possibly this could apply. However, anytime we do something that causes the Good Spirit OF God (the Holy Spirit) to leave us, it gives an opening to the evil spirit to fill and control. In his hatred of David, Saul was ranting & raving all through the palace, he was out of control. Animosity does this.
b. It Corrupts – Can you think of anything more corrupt than a dad using his daughters as leverage for political gain? When sin comes into a life, it both permeates and progresses. You start with hurt feelings, it progresses to a grudge, which turns into a hostilities, and quickly has you thinking in ways you have never thought before. It continues until;
c. It Consumes – Can you see how Saul’s animosity for David begin to impact every part of his life. There was neither rest nor satisfaction to be found. Have you ever seen someone consumes with animosity?
3. The Outcome of Animosity – Every action, attitude, and deed gives birth to something bigger than itself. Why is this? Because of our need to win. Animosity carries some huge results both for me and for my church.
a. Personal effect – These are 3 of the ways it affects the person carrying;
* Become divisive – The person filled with animosity cannot stand to see unity and harmony exist. They are the ones who take a little information and make up what they don’t know to keep things stirred up. Make no mistake, they’ll mask their divisiveness in all sorts of ways, but always remember, ‘out of the heart- the mouth speaks.’
* Become deceptive – Did you make a note of how many times Saul sought to deceive David? Saul had David to come play the harp to make Saul ‘feel better,’ well at least that was his story. Saul dangled his daughters in front of David as the motivation to fight the Philistines. Deception is rampant today. How often
* Become destructive -
b. Collective impact- When we allow animosity to grow in us as individuals, what is the harm to others? Does it just affect ‘me?’ Watch its reach.
* Shattered Societies – Shattered does not touch the words we need to describe our country. The home, church, unborn, morality, ethics, and much more is under attack as we witness the demise of our young folk. BTW – this is not just non-believers, this is across the board.
* Crushed Churches – Consider this, how many churches are really doing well by God’s standards. We have more mega-churches than any time in history while at the same time; we have more churches on cusp of closing than any other time. Churches are fighting over superfluous things while the spiritual is allowed to slide. Mainline churches are mainly white haired because we have been told if we do the perfect program, we’ll grow. And millions stand outside of our church building without hope, while millions inside the building tries to find hope.
* Fractured Families – The first cog in the societal chain which is hurt is the home. For every 2 couple who walk to the court house to say, “I do”, 1 couple walk into the courthouse and says, “I didn’t mean it.” The last statistic I read said between 30% & 40% of kids are being raised with an absent father. One in 4 women are likely to experience domestic abuse, among the 15-24 age group suicide is the 3rd cause of deaths while for children 10-14 it is the 4th leading cause of death.
* Ruptured Relationship s- Would you think with me about your life? How many people do you have deep personal knowledge? Who can you talk with about deeply personal matters with full trust? Most of us can think back to a person we trusted and they let us down. Here’s the issue; today we harbor ill-will & hold grudges not just against them, but others.
4. The Overcoming of Animosity – It seems to me that in the face of this ugly affliction we have but 2 choices. We can either succumb or overcome. Three suggestions (based on 2 Cor. 13:5) for us to overcome;
a. Recognize don’t Rationalize – What this means is to get a spiritual shovel, dig up the bitter root, and don’t try to say, “It’s okay.” Animosity is not one of the fruit of the spirit, better stated it is one of the tool of the enemy.
b. ‘Deal with’ don’t dismiss – Sad to say, we Baptist are not big on dealing with our faults and failure because we attempt to give the façade that we have it “all together!” How do you deal with it? Bring it out into the open, possibly with a trusted friend, and come to terms with your sin. Then let that friend help you decide if you need to take further action. It’s called being humble enough to admit you’re sinful.
c. Pray don’t play – If you are holding animosity and bitterness inside, quite likely you don’t possess the strength to make it right. When we come to God in our weakness, He gives us His strength.
There is no Biblical reason or permission to hold or harbor animosity in our heart. In fact, the preponderance of evidence teaches us that to possess such a feeling is sin. The longer we keep it, the more difficult it is to turn loose of.
Animosity has no place in the life of a Believer because when animosity comes the Holy Spirit of God goes.
