Anger

Ephesians 4:31-32  “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” 

Anger is an emotion we all feel from time to time. Too often people use it as a tool or weapon to beat others into submission. Many hide behind anger when the true emotions they feel are just too painful to bear. Anger is everywhere and it is an insidious parasite that destroys when given free reign.

Anger is a great motivator when you have to do something you don’t really want to do. It can be a powerful driving force that overcomes every obstacle, practically guaranteeing success. With emotion running high, everything suddenly becomes do-able. No one will mess with an angry person. Known anyone like that? Been that person yourself? What a high price for questionable success! Unfortunately, anger works too well. It’s habit forming. But it is not God’s way. 

The Bible teaches us the difference between righteous anger and anger that seeks its own way. We, as Believers, are guilty of claiming righteous anger when it is only thinly veiled self-serving anger. We need to tread lightly and prayerfully here, for the consequences self-righteous anger are no different than those of the non-believer walking in unadulterated and un-tempered anger.

Consider the account of Jesus throwing out the money changers in the Temple in Matthew 21:12-13.  Jesus was justifiably angry. The money changers were buying the animals the people brought in for the sacrifice. They were paying a low price in temple money. In short they were taking advantage of the poor and making a tremendous profit, all in God’s Temple. Jesus put a stop to this outrage. 

We humans have a tendency to get mad. We get mad at the people we love. We get mad at the people who wrong us. We get mad when things don’t turn out the way we expect and/or want. Sometimes we are just plain mad. If you think about it, anger seems to be the main way issues are handled. It’s a habit of behavior that becomes so commonplace in our lives, we don’t even realize it. 

The Bible says in Ephesians 4:26-27, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil.”  (KJV)  

Anger that is out of control always leads to sin. Think about it…anything can happen when anger is in control. Words come out of our mouths that bring shame and cause division. Our wrong actions hurt others and destroy our testimony.  

We are to be under God’s authority and under the control of the Holy Spirit, not controlled by anger. We are not our own. We belong to Jesus. We represent Him to others. What must they think of Him when they see Believers out of control?  

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:29-30 

Not only are we told not to sin in our anger, but we are told to put aside those emotions that lead to sin. That’s a biggie! Habits are difficult to break. We need to learn new ways to handle life’s upsets and disappointments. Ask the Lord to help. Without Him, we will continue to be in bondage to our anger.