In her novel Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte makes the statement, "Life is too short to be spent in nursing animosity and registering wrongs." This is perhaps the most accurate insight I have ever read in secular writings.
There is no trial from Satan that is as emotionally or spiritually draining as a bitter or offended spirit. Proverbs 18:14 lets us know that there is no one who is strong enough to successfully carry a wounded spirit. Hebrews tells us that bitterness is like a root of some noxious weed. It may lie beneath the surface for a while, but eventually it sprouts into a full-blown plant. The sad thing is, once this occurs, it damages not only the wounded one but also many who come into contact with them.
When Paul admonished us to not let the sun go down on our wrath, it was a warning to deal quickly with things that negatively affect our attitudes. He also advises us to let the mind that was in Jesus be in us also. If Jesus could forgive even as nails were being driven through His flesh, it is very dangerous for us to believe that we can be saved while nursing grudges. It is true that people can be mean-spirited toward us. Life, however, is too short, and living for God with a clean heart and mind is too enjoyable, to spend precious spiritual energy carrying a load of animosity. I do indeed hope and pray that others will treat me with brotherly kindness, but if they don't, that's their problem, not mine.
Thanks for reading. Be blessed.
("Life Is Too Short" from People Are Pitiful written by Ron Mullings.)
