Cross Bearing Comparing - Root Of Bitterness

My respect and honor for those like Rick and Denise Renner ,who have pressed through, and laid it all down to establish  The Church, in a very hostile atmosphere at times, has deepened a great deal.

My heart for my own Pastors, who have had their faith challenged by crisis, illness and even the death of loved ones, has grown as well. They never gave up, never backed away from The WORD, but kept building what The Lord told them to build despite the challenges in their own souls and lives.

We are all members of one body, each doing our part, each given our cross to bear, and gifts to deploy in that body. We have heard so much about comparing our "ministry" with another, or our gifts with another. We have heard so much about envy, jealousy and coveting another persons position in life, whether that be social or economic.

 But what about "cross bearing" comparing. Having struggled with a couple of the things mentioned above, I think this particular stumbling block has been most prevalent for myself, and I think is the root of why many people struggle with some of the other things, like envy and jealousy.

What do I mean by cross bearing comparing? 

Why can it be an open door to jealousy,envy,strife? 

What does it look like? 

Why does it keep so many in bondage to things Jesus bore THE CROSS, to free them from?

Cross bearing comparing can be divided into two separate types of cross bearing.

1. The things we are called, by The Lord, to take up and follow Him

2. The things we have allowed to cling to us, that we should be resisting and learning to overcome.

This post will not get too much into the damage and trouble the things in number 2 will cause a believer, but I will say they will hold us back and keep us far from Gods best for our lives. 

For the purposes of this post, I will stick with the act of Cross Bearing Comparing and why it keeps so many believers in bondage, and if coupled with other issues in the soul, cause them to become very bitter in the deepest part of their souls.

Bitterness can stay hidden for a very long time, not only to others, but even the person themselves. It is given a chance to take deep root and grow un-noticed until the fruits of it begin to bloom, then things can get painful and ugly.

Let me describe a person that may be in danger of falling into this very common trap.

Many times this person can seem very humble, even very spiritual. They may have many troubles in their lives. Often they have had childhoods that may have not been the best. A cycle of poverty may run through their family line, or struggles with certain illnesses.

They will often find themselves drawn to prayer ministries or other ministries in The Church that they see as more spiritual. They may even pray very fervently for others, and have an anointing to do so.

They may not say it or express it, but they see others that look like they have it easy, as somehow being less spiritual  or not important enough to be tested as hard as themselves.

They begin to ponder in their heart the  plush and comfortable  lives other believers seem to have. As time passes, they begin to resent those who do not carry "the burden for the church", that they feel like they have been called to carry. 

They have embraced the struggles, past pains and battles, as their cross to bear, and begin to compare what they see as the lack of burdens others seem to have to carry. 

They become so focused on the weight of their "cross" that every trouble, every attack of the enemy and every set back is seen as more weight added to their already  overburdened shoulder. 

Eventually they will become angry with anyone with any joy or success in The Church. God forbid if they see Pastors or Leaders enjoying the fruits of diligent and successful lives, because that will really stir the stew of bitterness that has been cooking in their soul for so long.

They can even begin to believe that not only are others not carrying a heavy enough cross, but that they must carry the spiritual "slackers" crosses for them. Like they have a duty to carry the burden of the entire church on their cross, because "no one else is".

I know this seems like a made up extreme example:

However I assure you this is not only a very real issue many have in The Body of Christ: It is also a very accurate description of myself and the things I saw unfold in my own soul.

Let me switch gears a bit here. If you are somebody who has this struggle, at any stage of its' development, you probably felt some stirring in you as you read this. Something in you rejected it. Maybe you felt some anger and can't understand why.

That is okay. You are not alone, there are thousands, maybe tens of thousands of other believers, just like us, that are wonderful candidates to be set free by Gods Grace and Love.
Along with all the things I mentioned above are various types of walls we set up to protect our souls from anymore hurt or disappointment. That is one reason we spiritualize much of our pain.

If we make every infirmity and hurt, part of the cross we bear, then we never have to face them.

The problem is, those walls only allow that root of bitterness to grow in a dark environment and if we think it is part of the cross we are called to bear, then we will never overcome them, with The Power that THE CROSS made available to us.

My next post I am going to try and describe further the things we tend to add to the cross Jesus did indeed call us to bear. I pray that it will help you, and myself, unload the burdens that we were never meant to carry.

Remember Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT)

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28-2 (AMP)

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls

God With Us

This was my reading this morning. I love the simplicity of The Gospel. I have heard it said, by a few ministers, that miracles,healing and deliverance are low level manifestations of Gods presence. Although I understood what ministers were saying when they said that, in my heart that is not accurate. 

When asked if He was The One to come, what was the answer Jesus Gave? For onlookers and spectators, that just want a show, it may be a low level experience, but for those touched,healed,delivered and to those who have the Good News preached to them, it was The Kingdom of God being manifested to them. Jesus: God With Us 

As you read this, I want you to really take it in. Feel the compassion and love of The Lord. Put yourself in the shoes of the one with the sick child,the dying spouse, the dead son or the one with no hope, having The Hope of The Nations preach to you, and opening your eyes for the first time to The Grace and Love of God. 

What was Jesus sent to do, and in turn what did He send His Disciples out to do?

 

Consider the following scriptures in light of these thoughts. What a major part of the continuing ministry of Jesus Christ in us and through us?





Luke 7:1-30 (NKJV) 

7 Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”

 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

 9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. 

11 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. 12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 

13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. 

16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” 17 And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region. 

18 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things. 19 And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus,[b] saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 

20 When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’” 21 And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. 

22 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 23 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” 

24 When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written: 

‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

Who will prepare Your way before You.’

28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist;[d] but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

Acts 10:34-38 (NKJV)

 34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Mark 16:12-20 (NKJV)

 12 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either

 14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.