Bible Reading: James 3:9-14
Key Verse: Verse 14 – “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.”
Key Words: and lie not against the truth
In the end, the bitter person is the only one really hurt by their bitterness. I call bitterness a self-inflicted wound.
John Underhill writes:
“A man in Spokane (Mr. Russell) had arranged for the minister from Fourth Memorial church to have his wedding. The day came and the minister didn't. The minister sent a replacement. The man was upset, and never forgot the incident. Thirty years later Carolyn had a garage sale. My mother was there helping. A neighbor came over and they introduced themselves. He said, ‘Underhill, are you related to a minister?’ ‘Yes, my husband is one.’ ‘Well, I could tell you a thing or two.’ Mom said, ‘Go ahead, I've heard it all.’ ‘Thirty years ago he was supposed to marry...’ and he told his story. Mom asked, ‘How long ago was that?’ ‘Thirty years’ he said. ‘Well, it couldn't have been my husband. We only moved here 25 years ago.’ For thirty years Mr. Russell had been bitter at the wrong man!”
Think about the oyster. It takes a grain of sand and turns it into a beautiful pearl. Too often we are just the opposite. We take pearls and turn them into a grain of sand.
What to do:
✞ Remember, no matter how long you nurse a grudge, it won’t get better.
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