PROBLEMS OF LACK OF GOOD COMMUNICATION AMONGST COUPLES.
1. Satan Looks for Loopholes: 2 Corinthians 11:3 says, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve try his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” Every successful home is a threat to Satan’s kingdom, that is why he would do anything to destroy it. Unfortunately, he gains entrance to many homes often through the woman. Women are more susceptible to the attacks of Satan because of their roles in the home. She is usually more at home than the man. So, she is more available to Satan.
2. It Creates Bitterness and Trouble: Hebrews 12:15 says, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Bitterness starts from very little things. Perhaps your spouse or a family member has done something to hurt you and you refuse to forgive him or her. Watch it, every remembrance of the incidence brings pain to you. And that’s a root of bitterness springing up gradually. If it is not dealt with immediately, it will ultimately trouble you. The term ‘springing up’ connotes a thing that starts small, and then suddenly shoots up. Once bitterness gains access into your heart and it is not immediately wiped, very soon, it will magnify itself and dominate you. Another thing about bitterness is that it actually troubles and embitters individuals. You lose your rest to bitterness. If you are bitter towards your spouse, when he or she is in the sitting room, you will want to be in the bedroom, and there is usually no rest within you. Bitterness makes you to fall short of the grace of God. This means when you harbor bitterness, you are actually frustrating the grace of God upon your life. And what are you without grace? 1 Corinthians 15:10 says, “but by the grace of God I am what I am.” So, while you need His grace to succeed in your family, bitterness can frustrate it.
3. It Breeds Unforgiveness and Wickedness: Not only does bitterness trouble individuals, it goes beyond that to defile them. It makes people filthy before God, as He sees you as an infidel and an outcast. In the Old Testament, outcasts were not permitted to dwell among other men (Isaiah 17:3). What a misery! Again, bitterness is a root that grows into the tree of unforgiveness. Wherever you see unforgiveness, know that bitterness is at its root. Unforgiveness is wickedness! An unforgiving wife or person is a wicked person, do you want to be identified with the wicked? Secondly, unforgiveness invites God’s anger. Let go of unforgiveness, so God won’t be angry with you.
REMEDY TO BITTERNESS
What you must do to overcome bitterness?
FORGIVE! Forgive whosoever has offended you including your spouse. Learn the secret of instant forgiveness, that is to forgive as soon as you are offended, whether the offender asks for it or not. The Bible says, “let bitterness be out away from you, with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31). So, forgive all people who have offended you so you can live a peaceful and burden free life. This is one of the secrets of success in marriage and family life. For wherever envy and strife are, there is confusion and every evil work. You don’t have to join many who have lost their homes and marriages to bitterness. This principle of instant forgiveness has helped me a great deal. I practice it and it has paid off for me. It pays to forgive.
