Apples of Gold

I am not sure where the initial breach came from but somehow, despite our 6 foot tall privacy fence, a seed of crabgrass found its way into our backyard this spring. The preliminary infringement was innocent enough. It lodged itself in the midst of healthy grass and began its menacing plot to take over the entire yard. By the time we noticed we had crabgrass, we really had crabgrass. It was everywhere and it was growing at a mind boggling pace. We pulled some of it up by the roots hoping to stem the advancing tide.  Not only had the roots gone deep but they had spread wide, encasing the entire root system of our doomed lawn.  If only we had recognized the issue before it had become pervasive it would have been easily remedied. By the time we became aware of the problem it was too late to turn things around-at least for this season. The cooler weather will bring a dormancy that will allow us to get ahead of the invasive weed before it shows up again in the spring. This time will be different because we know it is coming and we are preparing to snuff it out with an all out offensive!

Scripture warns us, especially in the last days, that we need to be on our toes, expecting sneak attacks from a cunning enemy. 

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

If you have been a follower of Jesus for any time, likely you don’t set out to sin. Jealousy, bitterness, and insecurity are tools of the enemy, carefully camouflaged as justified, righteous anger, aimed either at God or those around us. The enemy thoughtfully and patiently observes us, looking for the most vulnerable spot to drop a few seeds of discontent, somewhere that is hidden enough that they will have the time and temperature necessary to take root without our notice. 

These seeds can rapidly overtake the godly, healthy areas, slowly choking them off. The longer it is allowed to flourish the more difficult it becomes to uproot. Vile tendrils wrap around our hearts and minds, encasing them with a bitter poison that colors our view of the thoughts and actions of those around us. We read into things and pronounce undeserved judgment on those who stumble into our path… Even those God has sent to warn us that we have wandered off course.

The book of Hebrews provides valuable instruction when we find ourselves in such a place:

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:12-15

The first verses of Hebrews 12 provide a firm, but loving reminder that when we step out of line, God will step in and provide discipline, not out of anger, but a deep, Fatherly love, wanting what is best for us. Just as you would not allow your child to eat the temptingly colorful laundry pack because it is poisonous, regardless of how many tears they shed or glares they give, He steers us away from danger. 

Like the stubborn toddler, at times we stand there with the poison in our hands, lecturing our Lord on all the good things he is keeping us from by not allowing us to consume it. This is futile at best and treacherous at worst. We might even pop that thing in our mouth just to show him and then blame him for the pain and damage it causes. 

Beloved, be on guard against bitterness. It is sneaky. It is a master of disguise. Bitterness can convince you that you have every right to be upset, that this just isn’t fair, that it is not worth the fight. God has let you down, overlooked you, forgotten about you. This leads to feeling sorry for yourself, which turns into jealousy and anger with those who perhaps have what you wanted, and ultimately a dangerous disappointment with God because he hasn’t done things your way. 

Notice how Paul turns the focus from ourselves to concern for those around us. Bitterness isolates us as we see an enemy behind every bush, a traitor behind the extended hand and smile. We begin to see our brothers and sisters as competitors rather than teammates. 

This world is not an easy place for a child of God to navigate. Our culture looks on us with condemnation and skepticism. We need each other. Some will run faster than we do, some will go further, some will be handed things that have eluded us for decades. There is no room for bitterness or competition. 

If we find ourselves in a place of disappointment and dissatisfaction it is time to realign our hearts with the heart of God, remembering that our Father is always working things for our good-whether we like it or not! 

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 37:4