There is much debate in this nation as to how words can stir up anger, hatred and strife. This is such a powerful truth. Proverbs 15:18 (AMP) says: “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger and patient calms disputes.” Another version (AMPC) says: “he who is slow to anger appeases contention”. When we let anger take over our mental and emotional states, it removes the logical and common sense filters that allow us to “think before speaking or acting”. We then go on a word or action tirade, and once it’s finished, the damage is done. We have probably hurt others with our words or actions, and might even have destroyed relationships. In some cases, people can lose their job, their spouse, a friend, and in some cases, even land in jail for hurting or even killing someone in a fit of rage. Ephesians 4:26 (EHV) says:“ Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry”. It’s not a sin to be angry. What is a sin is if you allow your anger to control your actions, thoughts and decisions, thus causing you to do things that are sinful in nature. Anger can be used constructively. You can break a bad habit if you get angry enough to begin the process of breaking the habit. In many cases, people will not do anything about a problem until they have had it and they can’t take it any more. Anger is a good servant but a bad master. So instead of immediately giving in to anger, be slow to anger. Let patience have it’s work in the midst of the challenges of life. In doing so, you will be known as the person who can appease or calm potentially dangerous contentions and disputes. This way, issues will be resolved instead of relationships being destroyed. God is the God of peace, not of dissension and contention! We are His people, so let’s flow with His nature!
Is anger controlling you?
What is happening in people’s hearts today? So many people are getting angry and upset for the smallest of things. You can clearly see this in the morning and afternoon commute. The other day a car passed on my left side and the driver gave me “the finger” and then drove away very quickly. Meanwhile, I don’t even know what I did to merit “the finger.” Road rage has become commonplace today. It seems that the whole nation is angry about something. Psalm 37: 8 (CJB) says: “Stop being angry, put aside rage, and don’t be upset — it leads to evil.” The interesting thing about anger is that usually, people usually lash out at others, when the source of their anger is someone or something completely different. Your co-laborer might lash out at you, yet it might be that he or she had an argument at home. Your child might be angry, and might not want to talk with you, yet, it might be because of something that happened at school. In any case, it is so important that we learn to harness our “anger.” Uncontrolled anger can lead us to sin. It can destroy relationships. It can land us in jail. While anger is normal, the Apostle Paul instructs us to “be angry and do not sin.” This means that we can control our anger. Use anger constructively to propel you to do things that you really need to do, but do not allow anger to control you. Like David said: “It leads to evil.”
Ephesians 4:26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
