Delight in One Another

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES Building My Life on Values That Last   Resentment Hurts You More Than Anyone Else By Rick Warren — Dec 9, 2015 “To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do.” (Job 5:2 GNT) If you hang on to resentment, it always hurts you more than anyone else. Resentment is self-destructive and counterproductive. Resentment just makes no sense. If any guy ever had a reason to be resentful, it was Job. He was a godly man, who had everything he wanted — wealth, fame, and a great family. One day he lost it all. Enemy nations killed all his livestock. All of his children were killed. He got a terrible disease. He literally lost everything he had. All he had left was a nagging wife. Then his friends came along and said, “Job, it’s all your fault.” Though Job had every reason to be resentful, he tells us in the biblical book named after him that resentment is a bad idea. Job says, “To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do” (Job 5:2 GNT). Job was a wise man. He knew he didn’t have time to be resentful. He knew it was foolish, senseless, and illogical. If you think back through experiences in your own life, you’ll probably agree. We can do silly things when we’re caught up in resentment. We’ll say things like, “I’m going to get him!” Then we often do the ridiculous to make that happen. When we give in to resentment, we act in self-destructive ways and hurt ourselves much more than those we’re holding grudges against. For example, I remember one time watching the old comedy act, “The Three Stooges.” Mo kept hitting Curly on the chest. Curly said, “I’m going to get even with that guy. I’m going to stop him!” So he took a stick of dynamite and strapped it to his own chest. Then he said, “Next time he slaps me, it’s going to blow his hand off!!” That’s what happens when we’re resentful — we do really dumb things to try to get even with people. Worse yet, resentment isn’t helpful. It makes us miserable in the process. It never ends with us getting what we want. So why do it? Don’t hold on to your resentment. Let it go. Forgive. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over Why is it so important to us to have the last word? What are some of the ways you’ve seen lingering resentment hurt you or people you care about? What past hurt do you need to forgive in order to let go of lingering resentment? Today’s Scripture “And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us...” (Ephesians 5:2, AMP) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Delight in One Another Do you esteem and honor the people God has placed in your life? Sometimes it’s easy to take for granted your family and close friends, but it’s important to honor and value those around us. You are God’s representative in the earth, and when you proactively bless and encourage the people in your life, you are displaying God’s love for them. Not only are you showing God’s love to others, the Bible says that when you reach out to others, you are showing love for God. Notice this verse doesn’t say, “Walk in love as long as everyone acts the way you want them to.” It doesn’t say, “Esteem others as long as they treat you right.” No, it simply says to “walk in love as Christ loved.” There are no conditions to God’s love, and there should be no conditions to our love for others. Choose love today and watch God pour out His love and blessing on you in return! A Prayer for Today “Father, help me to love others today the way You love me. Show me how to be a blessing to the people You have placed in my life. I choose to honor You by honoring others today in Jesus’ name. Amen.”