Anger is a universal human experience. It is an intense emotional reaction that may express itself through: frustration, irritability, annoyance, impatience, blowing off steam, shouting, intimidation, insensitivity, fretting, quitting, back-biting, depression, even bullying.
Anger... can also be dangerously contagious. As Proverbs puts it, "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul" (Proverbs 22:24-25).
Certainly, we're not the first to let anger make trouble for us. It happened to people in the Bible too. Moses, for instance, became extremely frustrated with his whining followers (Numbers 20:10). So, instead of speaking to the rock to get water, as the Lord had instructed him, he angrily struck it twice (Numbers 20:11). He did get water from the rock, but there was a problem; Moses had disobeyed God. Because of this angry response, God told Moses he could not enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12).
Like dynamite, anger is explosive. Unless it's handled with wisdom and self-control, it can do great damage. When a person's temper gets the best of him, it reveals the worst of him. That's why people should know better than to come to the rescue of an angry person. Proverbs 19:19 teaches us that anger stirs us to do foolish and destructive things. "A man of great anger will bear the penalty, For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again."
It's easily one of the most common and destructive emotions. For example, in our hard-driving American society, anger is sometimes viewed as a virtue. We will be nice and friendly until someone crosses us, or we're calm and controlled until something doesn't go our way- and then we have the right to be angry! I have to admit guilt here, myself.
We're taught by some psychologists that spontaneous explosions of anger can be therapeutic (i.e, can help us to get things off our chest and to feel better). While it certainly is true that not all anger is wrong (Jesus got angry), the Bible also makes it clear that we're not to be under the control of anger. "A fool vents all his feeling, but a wise man holds them back" (Proverbs 29:11).
"Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret." -Ambrose Bierce
Proverbs 22:24 warns us of associating with hot tempered people. "Do not associate with a man given to anger or go with a hot-tempered man," Proverb 22:25 tells us what happens to us if we do associate with hot tempered people. "Or you will learn his ways and find a snare for yourself."
The warning here is against being a friend or even associating with a hot-tempered man (lit. "an owner or possessor of anger"(Proverbs 19:19), or one easily angered. The reason for not associating because such an association leads a person to take on wrathful ways [which are foolish (Proverbs 14:17, 29), divisive (Proverbs 15:18), and sinful (Proverbs 29:22)].
Unfortunately, anger and bitterness are contagious. Don't be friends with angry people because you'll start to agree with them. When you do you become ensnared (Proverbs 29:6) in events and caught up in a way of life that is hard to get out of.
There, now you know some things (and only a few from a very long list) that are related to anger. You also know that anger is definitely not a good thing. The obvious question here is" "How can I deal with, or control anger so that it doesn't rule, or ruin, my life?" We just saw some great examples of "anger" from the Bible. Let's take a look at a few suggestions, in regards to handling anger, also found in the Bible.
Love contributes toward peace because it covers or forgives the faults of others (Proverbs 17:9). It doesn't dwell on those faults (1 Corinthians 13:5; James 5:20; 1 Peter 4:8). When we see shortcomings in others, the solution is to overwhelm them with love. For we who have been forgive so much must forgive others (Colossians 3:18). A promoter of strife magnifies the faults of other (and we all have them). If you love someone, you give them the benefit of the doubt. If you hate someone, you don't.
Remember...love covers a multitude of sins (Proverbs 17:9; 1 Corinthians 13:4–7; James 5:20; 1 Peter 4:8). The message of Jesus is simple yet astounding: Love your enemies. Do good to those who mistreat you. Repay evil with kindness. When Christians live by these principles, he will keep his heart free of hatred no matter how others feel toward him.
"There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot." -Plato
Here are some other great suggestions: Proverbs 15:1 teaches that angry outbursts are divisive. Proverbs 16:32 tells us that having patience and a controlled temper is honored above being a great warrior. Proverbs 19:11 teaches us the value of discretion in controlling anger.
Galatians 5:22 assures us that, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace and patience." You can't have your life filled with those four things and be angry at the same time!
Look at it this way. When God's Word shapes our thinking and guides our choices, we'll discover that His way is always better than the way of the world. With gratitude, praise God that He has given up His anger against us because of Christ!
Scripture: Ephesians 4:26-27; James 1:20; Romans 12:21; Psalm 145:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Proverbs 21:2; Ephesians 4:31
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you helping me find the patience to deal with issues as they come my way. Amen
God bless you!
Myra
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