Bitterness

The film 'Chariots of Fire' is one of my favourites. I love the story-line that develops from the different motivating forces of the runners.

On one side there is ERIC LIDDELL running for the glory of God: "God made me for a purpose...but he also made me fast,and when I run I feel his pleasure".

On the other side is HAROLD ABRAHAMS, trying to reach the top and running for himself, for his own pleasure, glory and achievement.

The ending for each 'winner' is known. At the age of 43, Eric dies serving God as a missionary in China, and all Scotland mourns. Harold Abrahams is visited by disillusionment, and although he dies an old man, he wonders, with bitterness, what was the meaning of his life.

Bitterness is one of the emotions that bring about bondage in a person. When you are bitter, for whatever reason, you don't act or react as you would normally... bitterness governs all your being.

It is good to feel regret. If we have done something wrong and our conscience alerts us, showing us that we are taking a wrong turn, so the awareness comes over us that we have made a mistake.

We may want to turn the clock back and change the situation. There is regret for what we have done. This is not usually a complete solution, but this sensation teaches us to make good decisions, ask forgiveness of those we have hurt, and rectify, in as much as we are able, the wrong that we have done.

However, where bitterness appears, in a very high percentage of situations, it is because of mistaken motives.

Envy, pride, injustice, anger, and misunderstanding are some of the roots which produce bitterness in our lives; and it gives rise to a strange phenomenon.

This bitterness binds our hearts and restricts our natural abilities. Emotionally we are not on the same form as before, neither are we the same spiritually.

We are in what is called an 'embittered state' and while we harbor all this within us, we are practically speaking of no use to anyone.

I don't think I need to explain how we get into in this situation. We all know from experience, because we have been through it on many occasions.

What we may not recognise so easily is that when our bitterness dominates us we are sinning against God, and against others. It's that simple.

When we are bitter we tend to lay the blame on everyone else for all the problems that surround us.

When we are bitter against others we are the first to get cross, to respond badly, to be killjoys and to be destructive in our attitudes. No-one wants to put up with us!

And when we are bitter against God? It is much worse. Then we blame God for all the problems in the world.

Then we can't see reason about anyone or anything. It is good to ask questions, but don't put them before God as a reason for not believing in him.

It is good to be concerned about the evil in the world, and in our lives, but don't let it embitter your life.