Many have been calling the times we are living in as the age of resentment or anger. It is a bitter indignation at having been mistreated, suffering betrayal, and being deceived. Resentment often grows because it is not easy to shake off; it lingers. Surprisingly it initially can have a seemingly positive result. In an article in the Wall Street Journal, ‘How to Resist Our Age of Resentment,’ the writer mentions that “A 2017 study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, with more than 2,300 subjects from around the world, found that short-term resentment may help to boost self-esteem, by allowing us to blame others for our problems.”
Resentment is complex and brings various emotions, such as disappointment, anger, bitterness, and fear. Resentment keeps you from forgiving others. Any mistreatment can leave you feeling bitter and angry and plotting for revenge. When Saul was King, David (the future King) killed Israel's nemesis Goliath and made a name for himself for his heroics. Saul was jealous and thought David was going to take over his kingdom. Time and time again, David revealed that he supported the Lord's anointed, but Saul still lived in fear and resentment of David and sought to kill him.
If left to itself resentment can resort to a type of illegal activity as stated by Scotty Smith in a recent article. It steals peace and vandalizes sleep, robs relationships, kills kindness, spews toxins, and murders hope. Smith concluded, "To harbor resentment is nothing short of harboring a criminal. There's no greater waste of energy than resentment.”
Scriptures warn us of resentment: In Ecclesiastes, the author writes of someone who lived for the world’s pleasures but lost it all and lives in resentment, as “all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger” (Ecclesiastes 5:17). The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them (Job 36:13). Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple (Job 5:2).
What are we to do?
Scripture encourages us to:
1. Put off this resentful attitude:
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice (Ephesians 4:31-32).
2. Look to the Lord for grace and mercy.
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled (Hebrews 12:15).
3. Forgive the other person if they have wronged you.
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven’ (Matthew 18:21, 22).
4. Pray for those you resent.
Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you (Matthew 5:44).
In living this way, you may reveal to a real or supposed enemy the love and grace of God and keep your own soul from great harm.
