Having a right to be bitter.

I recently watched a movie called The Edge staring Anthony Hopkins.  He plays a very rich man who was involved in a plane crash at the base of some mountains.  The pilot dies immediately, but two of his employees survive.  Long story short - he saves their butts time and time again. They are negative and bitter and almost cost Charles Morse (Hopkins) his life because of their actions.  Finally, they end up dying too.  Morse is rescued and brought back to "base".  Dozens of reporters are there to find out the story of what happened.  The movie ends with some great lines.
Charles Morse:  "We're all put to the test...but it never comes in the form or at the point we would prefer, does it?
Reporter # 1: "Mr. Morse, what happened to your friends?
Reporter # 2: "How did they die?"
Charles Morse: They died...saving my life.

That caught me off guard.  Sure, Mr. Morse was cool and calculating throughout the movie, but then to say his friends died saving his life!  What?!

And then his line about "the test".  Tests never come at a convenient time do they?

I was then reminded of the story of Joseph.  I'm reading a book called God Built by Steve Farrar based on the story of Joseph's life.  You know his story.  Sold in to slavery.  Chance to be bitter Number 1.  He rises to prominence in Potipher's house.  Apparently he's a babe magnet and Mrs. Potipher hits on him.  When he turns her down, he ends up in prison again.  Chance to be bitter Number 2.  Then, while in prison, he helps the cupbearer out with a dream.  The cupbearer is released from prison.  Joseph reminds him to help him out.  But the cupbearer totally forgets him.  Chance to be bitter Number 3.  Eventually Joseph gets out of prison again.  Rises to the top.  Saves the country during a time of famine.  Then, his brothers - the guys who sold him into slavery years ago - come begging for food.  Chance to be bitter Number 4.  If anyone had a chance to be bitter and angry, it was Joseph.

Farrar points out that Joseph’s responsibility (and ours) is not to stress out over how we have been wronged.  He and we are to move on and trust in the Lord.  “When we are wasting the days of our lives in bitterness and anger over those who have wounded us, we are not trusting in the Lord and doing good.”   Farrar points out that God had great plans for Joseph, but he wouldn’t promote him if he had a diseased heart and bitter spirit.

A couple of verses to meditate on regarding this topic are Hebrews 12:15 and Psalm 139:23-24.