Conflicts In The Life Of A Christian

THE CONFLICT OF BITTERNESS PART II

Hebrews 12:15 "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;"

The previous post gave you three of the causes of bitterness. In this post I'd like to share three more.

--> Bitterness can be caused by dark days. Jeremiah 3:6 "The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot." Jeremiah spent time in a dark cave. Lamentations 3:15 "He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood." He became bitter because of the hardship he faced. When all seems lost we can become bitter. Dark days will come. They can come even when a person is walking with God and working for God. The best of Christians can become bitter when they face dark days.

The devil's desire is to destroy the church. He will attempt to accomplish that by attacking the pastor. If he can't get to the pastor he'll try to attack the pastor's family. The next step will be to attack the leadership of the church. Then he will go to the members of the church.

The true test of a person's character is how we go through those dark times.

--> Bitterness can be caused by envying others. If we're not careful we will look at others and see what they have whether it be material-wise or otherwise and envy them and then become bitter. When we are bitter because of what others have...we are the only ones that are miserable. Our bitterness doesn't affect them...they are fine. If we're not careful we'll become bitter because our marriage isn't like so-and-so's or our children aren't as well behaved as so-and-so's chihldren. The devil will try to get us to focus on others. James 3:15 "This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish."

--> Bitterness can be caused when we reap the wrong we have caused. Hebrews 12:6 "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." When we sin as Christians we will be chastened. Many become bitter because of their chastisement. We will reap the fruit of our sinful deeds. Many become bitter because of it. Why would we get bitter over something we did? People get angry with themselves because of what they have done. That anger eventually turns to bitterness.

These are only some of the ways someone can become bitter. I'm sure there are others. Can you think of any others? I'd like to see some feedback if you have anything to add.