Both the Law and Grace warn us against a root of bitterness among God’s people. “Be sure there is no man, woman, clan, or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Be sure there is no root among you bearing poisonous and bitter fruit” (29: 18). The New Testament counterpart says, See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many (Heb. 12: 15). This double warning serves to underscore the seriousness of this sin in the saints.
In both instances the entire congregation is charged with watching out for each other to insure bitterness does not wend its way into the body. Such watchfulness is imperative because bitterness is often stealth like. God’s description of bitterness as a root is apropos. Roots grow largely undetected beyond the view of the naked eye but as many homeowners and street repairmen know they can be rather destructive. Similarly, bitterness is often unseen until the damage is horrific.
Bitterness often becomes an excuse for all kinds of destructive behavior. Witness the profane life of Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for one meal all because of bitterness (Heb. 12: 16). Bitterness is often behind the liquor bottle and the pill bottle. It often provides the unspoken basis for bad relationships. It can be used to rationalize virtually every twisted behavior imaginable and some unimaginable. All these sins detonate spiritual “dirty nukes” which destroy everything around them. Don’t believe it? Then you have probably never lived or worked with an embittered person. The fruits produced by roots of bitterness are poisonous to all whose lips they pass.
In this emotional and moral jungle we call earth, bitterness is inevitable unless we are inoculated with heavy doses of grace. Grace changes our perspective on what would otherwise be bitterness producing experiences in our lives. Grace reminds us of the ultimate act of grace in which our Lord endured unspeakable atrocities to secure redemption for the very kinds of people who attacked Him. Grace also changes our power for coping with the ills of a planet gone mad. The grace of Jesus runs like a mighty Amazon in our veins enabling us to convert out headaches and heartaches into stepping stones to spirituality.
Minus this amazing grace we are destined to be embittered by the most casual of hurts. With it we can avoid both the roots and fruits of bitterness.