What happens when senior citizens accommodate bitterness in their hearts?
Today, many communities, cities, and nations of the world are in bitterness, envy, strife, and confusion because their senior citizens and leaders are under the power and control of demons of bitterness and wrath. Many senior citizens and leaders have been overwhelmed by vengeful anger and resentment, invoking retributory punishment for forgivable offenses or crimes.
Such was the case of King David and the men of Gibeonites. David asked the Gibeonites, ‘What shall I do for you? And wherewith shall I make the atonement that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord?’ They answered David, ‘The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose.’ Then David delivered the seven sons from the house of Saul into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest.’ (See 2 Samuel 21:3, 5-6, 9).
Notice that a senior citizen like King David also failed at some point in his lifetime. While handing over the mantle of kingship to his son Solomon, he told him,
‘Behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword. Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood‘ 1 KING 2:8-9
Why you should not pass vengeance on to your children.
Many of us are like David. We pass vengeance to our children, and they, too, give it to their children. As faithful Christians and senior citizens, we are called to overcome bitterness and wrath and help our children and people who look up to us to do the same. Bitterness and wrath are fruits of the flesh that can result in death.
Anger And Clamor
God can deliver you from the spirit of anger
I was once guilty of this. I would fight everywhere and anywhere with anyone and anything for no cause. I had an unusual spirit of aggression and could barely control myself until Jesus took over my heart. Are you still battling with anger? I want you to know that you can deal with any weakness by the spirit of God.
Paul’s admonition on anger
Anger and clamor are among the evil things Paul admonished the church at Ephesus to eschew (see Ephesians 4:31). The Psalmist also wrote, ‘Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil’ (Psalm 37:8).
Why should a senior citizen have self-control?
It is not very wrong to show or express your displeasure against sin, but do not overreact. Maintain a high level of self-control always and refuse to be wrathful or move people to wrath.
It is unbecoming of a well-respected citizen to be clamorous, make noise, shout people into confusion, or lure them into unnecessary protest (see Acts 19:24-41).