Jump Start # 935

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”

This week we are looking at some of the negative emotions that we often must learn to conquer in our daily walk with the Lord. So far we have taken a look at guilt and jealousy. Today, we consider anger.

Anger comes with many labels such as: mad, fuming, blow a gasket, blow my top, tiff, furry, rage, inflamed, vexed. Anger comes in several degrees, from mildly irritated to ready to punch someone’s lights out. We are not our best when we are mad. Our voice becomes louder and we talk faster, our blood pressure rises and nothing else seems to matter when we are mad. The trail of destruction that follows anger is not pretty. Holes punched in walls, chewed out co-workers, cussing, throwing things, making a scene, to being arrested for disorderly conduct.

It seems to me that we live in an angry society. The movies and music are angry. Violence is all too common in schools, work places and road ways. Our tolerance and patience is running thin as a country. It doesn’t take much to set some people off.

Our passage helps us to understand how God’s people are to deal with anger.

First, the passage does not say NEVER be angry. That’s not going to happen. That’s not good. Things ought to bother us. Things ought to out rage us. What those things are and how we deal with them are a different matter. It’s not fair, nor Biblical to say “Never get angry.” The hurting of the innocent, the mockery of God, the advancement of false ideas ought to bother us, anger us and drive us to positive actions.

Too often, we let little things get us angry. We get more upset over a scratch on our car than the misuse of God’s word. It’s the personal things that seem to make us steamed up the most.

Second, the passage list two negatives, two “do nots.” Do not let the sun go down on your anger. Deal with your anger quickly. The more your anger simmers the madder you become. Anger doesn’t improve with time. The more you stew over something the more you start thinking of getting someone back. Revenge often follows anger.

The second do not is “Do not give the devil an opportunity.” Anger does just that. It is a formal invitation to Satan to come into my heart and mess things up. Out goes love, prayer, fellowship and goodness. It is replaced with hostility, hatred, violence and finding a way to get even. Anger is opening the door to Satan. Anger is not the worst thing that can happen. Violence, hasty decisions, cursing, hateful words can cause lasting damage. Long after you have cooled down from being mad, someone you love will remember the cold statement, “I don’t love you.” Apologize all you want, you said it. Come up with a dozen reasons why you said that, stress from work, not feeling well, bothered by this, yet, they will remember you said it. Flowers won’t erase those words. The damage has been done. It can be recovered but it is hard. The devil smiles.

Harsh and angry words said at church can be apologized for, but the damage is done. Satan smiles. The cruel things said at work can lead to you being fired. The angry way you disciplined your children can make them afraid of you. Your quick temper will keep brethren from putting you in a leadership role at church. Your path of destruction embarrasses your family, shames your spouse and makes people wonder what is wrong with you. And Satan smiles.

Anger, like a mean dog, needs to be put on a short leash. You need to watch it and work on it. All the good you do can be destroyed by one angry moment.  A couple of suggestions: do not let anger come from the pulpit. The pulpit is the platform to preach God’s word and not be used as a whipping post. Angry sermons do not make good sermons. Calm down preacher. Take a breath. Take a vacation. Get focused. Chewing the brethren out from the pulpit, when it’s a one way conversation is not only not fair, it’s not what God wants from His preachers. Secondly, parents do not discipline when mad. Our kids can really make us mad sometimes. The spanking of discipline and the spanking of anger are not the same. Discipline involves instruction and changing behavior. Anger leads to abuse and injury. Calm down parent. Don’t say things that you will later regret. Don’t go overboard with things. There are days that the thought of sending our kids to the moon seems very inviting. Go join the circus is another great idea that crosses the mind of an angry parent. It’s easy to go to extremes when angry.

Well, what am I supposed to do? I get mad. First, as Proverbs teaches us, the one who controls the spirit is greater than the one who conquers the city. Instead of being controlled by anger and going for a ride, hold on to the reigns and you control your spirit. Find ways to think, calm down and be reasonable and rationale. Righteousness is not achieved through anger, James tells us. I have found that the less I say the better I am when I am mad. Didn’t always do this in the past. Blood boiled and I let others know it. Not good. Recognize your emotions and take control.

The two “do not’s” remind us that we are in control. Saying, ‘I can’t help it because I was mad,’ doesn’t fly with God. Do Not…Do Not. You hold the reigns to your emotions.

Find a time and a positive way to deal with what bothers you. Some things are out of our control and getting mad doesn’t put us in control. You may have planned an out door event and it rains like dogs and cats. That forces you to change things. Getting mad and staying mad at rain isn’t going to do anything but make you more miserable.

Usually when we are angry, we’ve put God on the sidelines. Mistake. Don’t do that. Keep God close. Pray. Consider passages like our verse today. Think, what would Jesus do.

When you lose your cool, get it back. Ask God for help and forgiveness. Work on patience. That is generally why we get so angry so quickly, we lack patience. That is a virtue.

Anger management—the best source is the Bible. The best example is Jesus.

Roger