Anger may be justified or unjustified. God’s anger is always justified, based on principle and in His consistence of upholding truth. God’s wrath is against all unrighteousness.
“You are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong. . .” Habakkuk 1:13
However, man’s anger may only be proper if it is based on principle. We are commanded to abhor what is wicked.
“Let love be genuine.Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” Romans 12:9
Man’s anger is more often unjustified and uncontrolled. Unjustified anger has led many persons to greater sin.
“. . . but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain was very angry and his face fell.” Genesis 4:5
“And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.”Genesis 4:8(b)
Anger is a message. Anger tells you that you are hurt. It is powerful and needs to be used with respect. In Ecclesiastes 7:9 we are alerted: “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools." According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary anger is a verb. It is defined as “to make angry” or “to become angry”. Proverbs 15:18 tells us that “a hot-tempered man stirs strife, but he who is slow to anger quits.” Anger forms part of the “fight or flight” brain response to a perceived threat or harm. But when it gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problems. Problems in your personal relationships, at work and in the overall quality of your life. Always remember that he who angers you conquers you. Apply therefore wisdom and take heed of what James advises us in chapter 1:19 and 20: “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
Fits of anger are classified along with other detestable works of the flesh, such as loose conduct, idolatry, practice of spiritism and drunken bouts. “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:18-23
Angry talk should be kept out of the congregation and we should follow God’s desire for the church. “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.” 1Timothy 2:8 (Anger/bitterness affects your prayer-life.)
Wisdom and patience are the keys to overcome anger. “A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.” Proverbs 14:16, 17
“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” Proverbs 14:29
If you allow anger and other negative feelings to crowd out positive feelings, you might find yourself swallowed up by your own bitterness or sense of injustice. But if you can forgive someone who angered you, you might both learn from the situation. It's unrealistic to expect everyone to behave exactly as you want at all times. Therefore “refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.”
People who have been treated hatefully become full of hate and can only give hate. People who have been criticized become filled with a critical spirit and can only give criticism. People who have been abused become bitter and angry and can only give abuse. It is wise to find solutions to anger. Instead of focusing on what made you mad, work on resolving the issue at hand. Remind yourself that anger won't fix anything, and might only make it worse. When people reject you, it’s very difficult for you to feel good about yourself. This plants a seed of anger in you. God said something like this,” you were cast out into the open field, and everybody loathed you (see Ezekiel 16:5).
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook offence.” Proverbs 19:11
“Know this my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”James 1:19-20
While one may on occasion be angry and sometimes justifiably so, he should not let it become sin to him by harboring it or maintaining a provoked state. He should not let the sun set with him in such a condition, for he would thereby allow place for the Devil to take advantage of him.
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offence.” Proverbs 19:11
“A fool gives vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” Proverbs 29:11
The Bible counsels that we should watch our associations, not having companionship with anyone given to anger or fits of rage, thereby avoiding a snare for our souls. “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.” Proverbs 22: 24-25
Anger has an adverse effect on our spiritual health and also produces profound effects on our physical organism. It can cause rise in blood pressure, arterial changes, respiratory trouble,, liver upsets, changes in secretion of gall and effects on the pancreas. Anger and rage as strong emotions, have been listed by physicians as contributing, aggravating or causing such ailments as asthma, eye afflictions, skin diseases, hives, ulcers and dental and digestive troubles. Anger also affects thinking processes so that one cannot think clearly. Not only is anger bad in a spiritual sense, but it also affects the physical body adversely.
A person should heed the Scriptures:
“Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9
Wise quotes are: If a small thing has the power to make you angry, does that not indicate something about your size? ~Sydney J. Harris
There is nothing more galling to angry people than the coolness of those on whom they wish to vent their spleen. ~Alexandre Dumas
Life is too short to hold a grudge, also too long.~Elizabeth Kenny
Dangers of anger:
“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.” Psalm 37:8
“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.”Proverbs 15:18
“A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.”Proverbs 29:22
“For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife” Proverbs 30:33
The best antidote for anger is to turn from it.
“A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.”Proverbs 12:16
“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”Proverbs 12:18
Wisdom is to speak sense in a hostile environment.
“A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.” Proverbs 14:16
A fool is reckless, has no boundaries and no discipline.
A wise man will shun evil.
Why win a battle only to lose a war?
“A quick-tempered man does foolish things,and a crafty man is hated.” Proverbs 14:17
Every action/manifestation birthed from anger will produce foolishness. The speech that follows will always be a “memorable” speech.
“A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.” Proverbs 14:29
A quick temper is a sign of immaturity; of inner hurts. When a fuse is blown it is a sign of a malfunction.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”Proverbs 15:1
Harsh words can act as a detonator or an igniter. Be very selective in what you say, how you say it and when you say it in a volatile situation.
Live in peace with all men.
Don’t allow anger to creep into your inner person. If no one else has compassion on you, remember that God does and that’s reason enough to be good to yourself.
Reach for the top, the bottom is overcrowded – Jerome Liberty
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