ICS Daily Devotions
Toxic Relationships
Luke 6:45b (NKJV) and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
The utterance from our mouth comes from our hearts. Jesus was referring to an evil man who lives and speaks out of the evil treasure of his heart. Out of the evil treasures of the heart, the mouth will speak forth vindictive, evil, destructive and devouring words. It is never pleasant to listen to words that do not edify. It is especially unpleasant when it is spoken in front of a group of people with the intention to belittle, harm or make a person look extremely bad. There will be emotional scars in the heart of the listener. If the person who is at the receiving end of these unpleasant and disparaging remarks were to retaliate in the same evil and vicious manner, then they will devour one another through words. The relationship will never be good because it has been strained and torn apart by words.
One of the ways where evil is manifested in the life of a person is through toxic relationships. There are toxic relationships either among friends, family members or between married couples. In a toxic relationship, one party is usually very controlling, unsupportive and self-centered. There is no kindness and empathy in their words. Instead they are filled with sarcasm, criticism, and overt hostility. Besides verbal abuse, this can also lead to physical abuse if it is not managed well. They manipulate or control the relationship through words including emotional blackmail. The relationship is filled with resentment and jealousy that makes the other person feel as though they are walking on egg shells around that person. They are constantly under stress because they do not know what will trigger the other person into a rage. There is total disregard for the other person and often decisions are made without consulting or respecting the other person. The manipulator is a liar and has an evil heart, just like the devil who is a deceiver, tormentor and oppressor. This person will make the other person feel oppressed, trapped, threatened and fearful to leave the relationship despite the toxicity in the relationship. The person being harmed in this relationship might even be deceived into thinking that everything is done for the good of the relationship. It is harmful and hurtful! Push a pause button for this kind of relationships! Seek help if you are the tormentor or being tormented.
Luke 6:43-45a (NKJV) “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good;
If we allow our sin nature to rule, then everything we do will be for our own self-gratification and pleasure. We will devise and scheme, connive and use unethical means to achieve what we desire. That is the fruit of a bad tree. Every tree is known by its fruit, which simply means that we should expect apples from an apple tree. Likewise, we should be producing the kind of fruit that is expected of us based on who we profess to be. Our Christian lifestyle and manner of speech should set us apart from the world. We should be trees that produce good fruit and not bad ones.
Sermon Series – Ouch it Hurts!
