The Destructive Nature of Bitterness
Scripture — Acts 8:18-23 (NRSV)
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.”
Focus
Bitterness is destructive. And yet it is easy not only to find seeds of bitterness planted in the soils of our hearts, but even to water them. This can happen even in the context of the church when we are seeking to do the will of God, when we find ourselves looking at others in positions that seem more important than our own. Peter’s instructions in such situations? Repent and pray.
Devotion
In yesterday’s devotion we began to look at the story of a man named Simon who practiced magic in the city of Samaria and was the big name in town. However, when Philip, and later John and Peter, preached the Gospel in Samaria, Simon no longer had his own name on the marquee; the way the story is told, he ceased to be the big man in town. Although Simon believed the Gospel and was baptized, he seemed to want to regain his position of importance. It wasn’t enough for him to see God doing a good work through the Holy Spirit; Simon wanted to be the person through whom God worked.
Simon goes so far as to think he can purchase from Peter the power to impart the Holy Spirit. This goes beyond the prideful desire I wrote about last time; it is actually blasphemous. Simon thinks he can control the Holy Spirit. This shows a profound misunderstanding of God, as though God were some local Roman deity that could be bought with a bribe, or a spirit whose power could be controlled with a charm—like a genie in a bottle. That alone could lead to many devotions exploring the ways that we think we can control God, rather than letting God work through us.
But today I want to focus on something different, which I think relates more to yesterday’s devotion and to something that is also insightful about human nature and thus as relevant to the church today as it was 2000 years ago. As Luke continues the story, he raises another warning through the words of Peter to Simon. “For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.”
The “chains of wickedness” could refer to many aspects of Simon’s behavior including his thought that he can buy God’s power. It is the other phrase, “the gall of bitterness,” that suggests to me something at the heart of the story—the underlying issue that is really bothering Simon. In Peter’s metaphor, Simon is not merely bitter; he is in the very gall of bitterness: that is, he is at its irritating center. We might say that Simon is overwhelmed with bitterness.
If you read the story, you might have a good sense of why. Simon was considered great. He was popular and important and garnered attention. After Peter and John came, however, not so much. He has lost his appeal. That can be hard to swallow. In his heart, he likely blames Philip, John, and Peter. Thus, rather than rejoicing at what God does through the leadership of the two apostles, Simon grows jealous of their spiritual gifts. He wants it for himself. His pride and jealousy turn to bitterness.
I have to admit that I have, at times, wrestled with a spirit of bitterness. Rather than rejoicing at the good things that God is doing – especially the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of other believers – I can get wrapped up in what I want to see God doing through me and what I think of possessively as my ministry or my gifts. And that, as Peter notes in the life of Simon, is destructive.
Thankfully, Peter identifies not only the problem but also the solution: the response needed from Simon. Repent and pray. Acknowledge our seeds of bitterness and turn them over to God. Pray the words attributed to David in Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Reflect
Are there places in your heart where you harbor bitterness? Does it bother you when others in your church, ministry, or place of work seem to have more importance than you?
Act
As God to search your heart and reveal what needs to be revealed. Confess as needed, and even as you release bitterness to God, take the time to thank God for the good things God is doing not only through you but also through the lives and ministries of others.
Pray
Father in Heaven, it is easy for me to have feelings of envy, bitterness, jealousy, or resentment – sometimes over things for which I ought to be thankful. Search me and show me where I hide bitterness in my heart that I might repent. I thank you that you love me, and that you have brought me into a relationship with you. I praise you that you are at work in the world in and through the lives of so many you have called. Thank you for the joy of being a part of that. Thank you for the times I can witness it and give you praise. Amen.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the High Calling archive, hosted by the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Jesus Smells Like Murphy’s Oil Soap.
Matthew Dickerson
Author
Matthew Dickerson’s books include works of spiritual theology and Christian apologetics as well as historical fiction, fantasy literature, explorations of the writings of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, and books about trout fishing, fly fishing, rivers, and ecology. His recent book,