This is "A Word from the Vine" with me, Pastor Loren Christensen. My dear friends, as we gather in the house of the Lord, we seek to understand not just the actions, but the hearts of those who bully. We ponder deeply upon the question: What do bullies gain from their actions?
In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul speaks to us, saying:
Romans 2:1 - “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.”
This scripture cuts to the core of our inquiry. It challenges us to look beyond the surface of bullying—to see not just the act, but the emptiness that it springs from. When one person chooses to belittle another, it is often a misguided attempt to fill a void within themselves. They seek to gain a sense of power, control, or superiority, but this gain is illusory. It is a fleeting triumph that leaves the soul even more barren.
For in judging others, the bully condemns themselves. They become ensnared in the very judgment they pass, trapped in a cycle of negativity that diminishes their own humanity. The pain they inflict upon others is a mirror of the pain within their own hearts—a pain that cannot be healed by causing more hurt.
Let us reflect upon this, brothers and sisters. The true gain we seek cannot be found in the downfall of others, but in lifting each other up. It is not in the assertion of dominance, but in the humble service to one another. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.
As we continue to explore the nature of bullying, let us hold fast to the truth that the only gain worth pursuing is that which is found in Christ—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the fruits of the Spirit, and they are the true treasures of a life lived in God’s grace.
May the Lord guide us to seek these heavenly gains, and in doing so, may we become beacons of His love in a world that so desperately needs it. Amen.
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