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 12:15
It was a grudge of heart-wrenching length. The two men were 99 and 87 years old when they finally ended their feud.
Two pioneers of the artificial heart would not speak to each other for four decades. One accused the other of “stealing” an artificial heart from his former colleague’s lab and implanting it in a patient. Even after their reconciliation one doctor said of the other, he “disappointed me with his ethics” and “poor judgment” in doing the implant, which was “a little childish.”[1]
Jesus modeled for us a way of living totally free from the burden of grudges. Not only did He talk about how to forgive, but He also showed us. When a close friend betrayed Jesus, and power-hungry leaders lied about him, Jesus didn’t rage in indignation. Even while being killed, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
If you’ve carried the weight of anger and resentment, you know the effect they have on relationships, work, and health! The Bible warns, “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 12:15).
The Bible teaches that when we feel wronged, we’re to go to one another in private, to allow for an apology and then, with one or two others if needed. As a last resort, grievances among Jesus followers should be taken to the Church for help in sorting things out (Matthew 18:15-17).
God gives us the strength to escape the grip of grudges if we are willing to handle conflict His way.
[1] Altman, Lawrence K. “The Feud.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 27 Nov. 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/health/27docs.html.
