Between Bitterness and Cynicism
Look up, Look ahead, Look to Christ
A friend sent me a wonderful little meme last week. It pictured a man and woman drinking coffee.
The man says, “Honey, I think this cup of coffee is Christian.”
The woman responds, “What? Why do you say that?”
The man, “Because it’s been through so much and it’s not bitter.”
Christians do go through a lot in this world. So do others, but Christians go through all the world throws at them PLUS all the world’s hatred for Christ. It is both observed and expected that Christians do not and will not grow bitter at all they go through.[1]
But some Christians do grow bitter. The reason for bitterness is always the same, we expect better. We want better. But it is an unreal expectation. The Bible is filled with evidence that we will not get better and even do not deserve better.
Matthew 10:24-25 (KJV)
The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Luke 10:3 (KJV)
Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
John 15:18 (KJV)
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
2 Timothy 2:3 (KJV)
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Matthew 10:25 (KJV)
2 Timothy 3:13 (KJV)
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Things are not going to get better, and we do not deserve better. To expect that which we must never have leads to disappointment and eventually to bitterness.
Sometimes preachers will ignore this Bible truth, focusing on the promises of God, attempting to bolster the spirits of their congregants. Their motives in most cases are pure. It is easy for those who don’t expect better to become cynical.[2] We certainly would not consider cynicism to be better than bitterness.
The answer to realistic expectations without cynicism is hopefulness. Titus 2:13 (KJV)
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The reason a Christian can be realistic about the world picture without growing cynical about it is that he has hope in Jesus Christ.
Look up
Look ahead
Look to Christ.
Don’t lose hope in His coming and His victory over this sin-filled world. Don’t lose sight of the whole message of the Bible or the eternal plan of God. Then you will have the tools to look at this world for exactly what it is and be joy filled.
Neither bitter, nor cynical, but hopeful.
[1] Ephesians 4:31 (KJV)
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
[2] A bleak outlook about others, always imagining that people are ruled by their worst instincts. (vocabulary.com)