"Bitterness and Anger"

For every believer there are two emotions that we need to guard our hearts from, and these two destructive emotions are bitterness and anger. And if we allow these two emotions to fester and take charge of our hearts, they can cause division among believers. These emotions that can break relationships and can seriously hinder a person’s fate.

Hebrews 12:15 says See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. A different translation says Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Notice that this verse doesn’t warn us to be cautious of bitterness itself, it pleads with us to be cautious of the root of this bitterness.

Paul was careful and intentional in his use of this analogy. So, let’s consider the life of a plant; usually we can’t see a seed after it’s been put into the ground nor can we see its roots, but we do see the fruit and we do see the flowers once they pierce the Earth and come above ground much like bitterness; the root of a plant is not visible to the naked eye.

We may only be aware that a seed was planted when we see the fruit. See, Paul knew that bitterness was so destructive that it needed to be uprooted as soon as the seed germinated. or planted-developed

He didn’t warn the Hebrews to dispose of the fruit of bitterness, he knew that when you see the fruit of bitterness…. it’s much too late then. If we wait for bitterness to be visible above ground, we risk being a threat to others. And perhaps, this is why the Bible says see to it that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble and by it many become defiled. This means that before bitterness even gets to the surface, we should eradicate it.

Now here’s what the Bible says about anger

James 1:19-20 Understand this my beloved brothers and sisters, let everyone be quick to hear; slow to speak and slow to anger, the anger of a man does not produce the righteousness of God

(be a careful thoughtful listener) (carefully choose your words) (patient, reflective, forgiving) (that standard of behavior which He requires from us) The Bible doesn’t tell us not to be angry; it tells us not to sin by letting anger control us. This is because anger can be like a wildfire it leaves behind destruction and ruin.

Anger and bitterness are strong emotions and we as children of God should be guarded against these emotions. We need to pray for the Lord to purge our hearts; only God can make us pure; only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we have true self-control.