The Defilement Of Bitterness Series

And isn’t that what the 1st servant did? He PUNISHED the other servant who owed him. He threw him in jail until the DEBT WAS PAID! But Jesus’ parable illustrates an absurdity that everyone can understand. The first servant owed 10,000 Talents - that’s BILLIONS of dollars in today’s economy, and was forgiven – the debt entirely removed. But then he refuses to forgive a far lesser debt. And that’s Jesus’ point! God has forgiven us an enormous debt. For us to NOT forgive others is an insult to the Father!

All have sinned and fallen short. ALL have hurt God. ALL have been enemies of God. And the pain and sorrow we’ve cost God is so vast that the pain others have inflicted on us pales by comparison. The point is, God has forgiven us far more than what we’d ever have to forgive others for. So – let’s revue – bitterness and unforgiveness, pollutes us, contaminates us, and robs us of our health and our relationship with God. AND IT INSULTS GOD!!! You don’t want that, do you? So we want to get rid of bitterness, but how can we do that?

First – recognize that bitterness is sinful. It stains you, pollutes you, and corrupts your soul. And it robs you of God’s grace. Once I know the damage it does easier to stop doing it.

ILLUS: Just as an example - I love Pepsi. My dentist doesn't. He's warned me for years that it was damaging my teeth, but I didn't take it as seriously as I should have. Then one day, after sipping some Pepsi, I experienced a deep pain in my teeth that wouldn't go away... I don't drink Pepsi anymore.

In the same way, once realize how damaging things like bitterness can be to our lives, its easier to decide not allow for it any longer in our lives.

Secondly – bitterness is causes us to try to be GOD. James 4:11-12 says “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy.”

When we become bitter… we play God. And we seek to punish others as if WE were God. But there’s only one lawgiver (GOD) and there’s only one judge (GOD).

Romans 12:19 “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." If someone needs to be punished… let God do it. He’s better at it than you are!

3rd – Realize that forgiving someone DOESN’T mean allowing them to continue hurting you. A person once asked how they could forgive a family member had sexually abused them. I explained – that she should still protect herself from being alone with them. But the objective of forgiveness was to let go of her hatred. To be get to the point where she could pray for that family member. Then I told her the story of Corrie Ten Boom.

CLOSE: During WWII, the Nazis sent 1000s of people to concentration camps. One of those people was named Corrie Ten Boom. Her parents died in the camps, and she and her sister endured numerous indignities and humiliations at the hands of their captors.