I pastored my first church in what was one of the most prolific, cotton producing counties in the nation. Most of the men in our weekly men’s Bible study were involved with some aspect of cotton farming or processing, and it was amazing to me how many parallels to that industry we discovered within the truths of Scripture.
On the week we studied the topic of bitterness, Doug gave us an illustration I will never forget. At that time, he was superintendent of a large facility that compressed already bailed cotton into much smaller bales-- convenient for storing until sold as commodities on the world market. He told us how tiny pieces of gravel could sometimes get caught up with the cotton in the harvesting process, with the possibility of creating a tiny spark—leading to a smoldering fire deep within the bale itself. Even though the material is incredibly compressed, Doug explained that the cotton creates its own oxygen, allowing the fire to burn inside the bale, completely undetected.
Even if you immersed the whole bale in water, he told us, the internal fire would continue to burn. At some point in time, this internal smoldering could break out into flames, lighting other bales on fire and creating great damage—even taking down a whole warehouse.
The comparison to our study of bitterness seemed obvious to all of us. It only takes a little spark of anger, jealousy, intolerance, animosity—or even impatience—to create a tiny smoldering fire within. Our own carnal nature supplies it with the “oxygen” needed to keep it burning as we mentally rehearse again and again what happened to us and what was said to us. Unless we allow the Holy Spirit to deal with this smoldering anger, hurt, or resentment, it will continue to burn and burn. Although, no one may be able to detect it from the outside.
But then comes the day when the flames break out, releasing a firestorm of hurtful words, vindictive actions, and perhaps even violence. Many, people can be singed—or even destroyed—by hidden flames that have broken out for all to see. The writer of Hebrews warns: “Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives” (Hebrews 12:15, tlb).
How do we keep those internal sparks from smoldering, burning away our peace and joy and fellowship with Christ and filling our thoughts with plans for retaliation? We can find the key in Ephesians 4:31, 32 (nlt): “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander…. Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Forgiving one another.
With Christ, in the power of His Holy Spirit, we have the supernatural ability to let go of resentment, injured pride, envy, and hatred. In fact, it’s not even optional. We must forgive one another, or the unforgiveness will go on smoldering within us. Perhaps for years. And then at some point it will break out into the open, creating havoc, injuring our loved ones and friends, and perhaps even surprising ourselves.
Of course it hurts to be wronged, lied about, disregarded, insulted, rejected, ridiculed, or condescended to. And it only seems “natural” for our human nature to dwell on those hurts, defend ourselves with a thousand arguments, or even plot our “sweet revenge.”
But God won’t let us get away with that. The apostle Paul tells us, “Never take vengeance into your own hands, my dear friends: stand back and let God punish if he will. For it is written: ‘Vengeance is mine. I will repay.’ …Don’t allow yourself to be overpowered with evil. Take the offensive—overpower evil by good!” (Romans 12:19, 21, Phillips).
It isn’t easy to let go of bitterness. But it is much easier to extinguish—day by day, hour by a hour—as a tiny spark than a flaming inferno.
Maybe the best plan is to do what David did in Psalm 139, and invite the Holy Spirit on an inspection tour of your soul’s warehouse. Only He can spot the sparks smoldering deep within the most hidden bales.
Search me thoroughly, O God, and know my heart;
Test me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.
(Psalm 139:23-24, Amplified)