ManageYourEmotionsBook8.5x5.5_RevJULY.indd

As I mentioned in the previous chapter, anger isn’t always bad. Bitterness, however, is never good. “It keeps us in a constant state of feeling upset. Over time this can make us sick. It can also ruin our relationships with others and get in the way of forming new relationships. Bitterness provides no value.” 30 According to Irish-American actor, writer, and politician Malachy McCourt, “Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” 31 I was surprised to read recently that Dr. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), one of the most influential thinkers of his day, died a bitter and disillusioned man at age 83.Tragically, thisViennese physi- cian, whomTime magazine named one of the top 100 persons of the 20 th Century, had little compassion for the common person. Freud wrote in 1918, “I have found little that is good about human beings on the whole. In my experience most of them are trash, no matter whether they publically subscribe to this or that ethical doctrine or to none at all” (Veritas Reconsidered, p. 36). Freud died friendless. It is well-known that he had broken with each of his followers.The end was bitter. 32 Making matters worse is the fact there is no evidence to sup- port he had made peace with God through Christ. In fact, he termed religious beliefs “illusions,” once necessary to restrain man’s violent nature in the early stages of civilization, yet in modern times, able to be set aside in favor of reason and science. 33 Delving into the central text for this chapter (2 Samuel 17:1- 23), let’s dig deeply into the oft dysfunctional underbelly of King David’s courts, into the life of a member of his inner circle who also died a bitter man. His name is Ahithophel, which means “brother of foolishness.” 34 Although he eventually lived up to his name,Ahitophel started well, as we can determine by first looking at his construc- tive life. Unlike Freud,Anithophel was a worshiper. When we are in- troduced to him for the first time in Scripture, he is keeping the Law

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