Root of Bitterness (Heb. 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;

Bitterness may spring up like a root, but if left unattended, will grow to mammoth proportions.  Bitterness in the heart of the believer is like a poison.  Important questions to ask are how does a person become bitter and where does bitterness come from?  

As humans, we interact with people daily and in that interaction, we can be offended or hurt.  If we carry these hurts in our hearts and fail to forgive as the scriptures instruct, the hurts will remain.  As future days pass, daily hurts continue to accumulate.  If this process continues for a while, it will not be long until the individual is facing major issues of hurt and anger.  This person's anger will continue to grow towards others and even themselves for allowing the hurt to happen.  Bitterness develops from unresolved hurt and anger.  Anger is best described as a person's emotional state, but bitterness will develop and become their attitude or perspective towards life and others.

To keep yourself from being overcome with hurt, anger and bitterness, you must forgive those who have sinned or wronged you.  Forgives means to release.  A common phrase that people say today instead of telling people to forgive is, "Let it go".  When we forgive, we let people go or release them from any obligation towards us.  Because they don't owe us, it will be difficult to become angry towards them and without anger, there also be an absence of bitterness.

So, as you face people daily who hurt or offend you, look for reasons why you should forgive them. It may be because of issues in their lives.  It may be because of things that you have done towards them or possibly because they simply may be having a bad day.  But by releasing them, you are really freeing yourself rom all of the baggage that leads to bitterness.

Take a quick inventory of your life.  If you have hurt, anger or bitterness, identify the causes and those involved and LET THEM GO!

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.  Ephesians 4:31-31