Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering — fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Genesis 4:2b-5 New International Version (NIV)
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Genesis 4:6-8 (NIV)
Cain allowed bitterness to consume him
Naomi and Ruth
Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.” Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”
Ruth 1:8-10 (NIV)
Even if I thought there was still hope for me — even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons — would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!”
Ruth 1:12b-13 (NIV)
But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
Ruth 1:16-18 (NIV)
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. [the name Mara means bitter] I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
Ruth 1:20-21 (NIV)
Boaz and Ruth
God takes bitter and makes it better.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIV)
Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. – Maya Angelou
Satan uses our bitterness to steal our joy, kill our dreams, destroy our lives.
Bitterness is the first cousin to unforgiveness.
Bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
Bitterness is not what God had in mind when He created us
Search me, O God and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any [bitterness] in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24 English Standard Version (ESV)
Are you willing go from Bitter to BETTER
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV)