To hate or not to hate. That is the question?

"I hate my hair!" "I hate this dress!" "I hate this house!" "I hate this car!"

Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.......... Why must we hate?

We throw this word around like it's nothing, but hate is a HUGE emotion.

Webster defines hate as:

1 An intense hostility or aversion usually deriving from fear, anger or bodily injury.

2. Extreme dislike or antipathy.

Bible Story start

When I think of the word 'hate' I am reminded of the old Bible Story of Joseph. He was a dreamer. He had a dream that he would one day be King. His brothers hated him so much, and were so jealous of Joseph, they sold him into slavery. SOLD him, their own brother. He was then sold again to wealthy man who saw that Joseph was a Godly man, and made him the head of his house. Joseph was then falsely accused (again by jealousy and hatred) and imprisoned. Then Joseph became the interpreter to the King and a very important man.

Now, we all know this story (If you don't the "Veggie Tales has a GREAT little movie on it called "The Ballad of Little Joe" Very cute) Joseph becomes the second hand to the Pharaoh. He interpreted a very important dream that saved Egypt. And regained his family's love.

Bible Story end

These brothers hated Joseph because their father favored him over them. They were jealous of him. How many of you have felt the same feeling? I'm raising my hand. I'm the oldest and resented my sisters sometimes because they had freedom and I didn't. I was the one chauffeuring them around, to and from school, to and from friends homes, all while I worked. When I got a job, that was it. I put gas in the car on my own, I paid for my clothes, school supplies and any food I ate outside of my house while my parents paid for theirs. I was not happy at that deal. Did I hate them? No. Do I hate them now? NO.

Hatred is such a strong emotion it clouds people's eyes. It's like they get tunnel vision. They start holding grudges against a person, then the grudge boils over into prejudiced against the race of the person you're angry with. (race not necessarily meaning color, look at Hitler almost wiping out the Jewish Race.) Then it comes to murder or mass murder as some cases in history have proven. 3 examples Napoleon, Mussolini, Hitler. All 3 wiped out so many people because of hatred and greed.

When you carry a grudge, that means you are an unloving person. People who love one another can't hate one another at the same time. Thus, making it unlikely you will get into Heaven holding a grudge. Grudges open the door to slander, mouth opens before brain thinks. And the biggest thing is grudges, anger and hatred cloud your mind, not leaving judgements up to God. Hating someone, you've already judged them. Judged, convicted and sentenced. The biggest contributor to hatred, I've already written about "Anger"

Sites:

Ephesians 4:22-32

Matthew 18:15-20

Matthew 5:19-22

2 Contains 2:6-11

My thoughts: The world is so full of hatred it's hard to turn on the television without seeing it. Violence across the world, across the nation, across the state. It's hard to watch. So, I don't. I don't want my son to know hatred, although I'm sure sometime in his life he will. The only thing we can do is love one another. Help those with hatred see they are blinded by it. DO NOT JUDGE THEM, only God has this right, and above all else. Be happy. The world is a great place if you chose to see it that way. Teach your children to love, not hate. And the most important thing, love your neighbor.