Anger: February 3, 2010

FEBRUARY 3. TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2010.

ANGER

DEFINITION:

A strong emotion of displeasure and resentment or wrath.

SCRIPTURE:

“In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Ephesians 4:26-27.

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. Proverbs 29:11.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Webster says anger is a strong emotion. Not only is anger a strong emotion it is a dangerous emotion. Anger motivates people to make bad decisions that often lead to violence. People do things in anger that they would not normally do and then they regret it later.

God does not say that we will not get angry. We read in the Bible that God Himself gets angry. What angers God is the godliness and wickedness of people. (Romans 1:18) In Numbers 32:13 we read, “The Lord’s anger burned against Israel and He made them wander in the desert for forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in His sight was gone.” God’s anger is always justified and His punishment is just.

What we must understand about anger is that God wants us to control our anger and handle it wisely and properly. The writer of Proverbs advises us to be wise and keep anger under control. Paul’s advice, in Ephesians 4, on anger is to not allow it to cause us to be evil and sin, but to handle it thoughtfully and deal with it immediately. Unresolved anger leads to bitterness and destroys relationships.

Every family has to deal with times of anger between its members. It happens in the best of families. There is no perfect child that has never made his or her parents angry. As every parent knows, parenting is not easy. When parents get angry with a child they must stop and think whether their anger is justified. Children must be disciplined when it is merited, but parents must make sure the punishment is done in a loving and caring manner. The purpose of discipline is to help a child learn and grow. It is quite natural for children to dislike discipline, even when they know they deserve it. They react with anger against the parent. Children will try the patience of a parent but parents must remain firm and consistent in their discipline, but always letting your children know they are loved.

Parents have the responsibility of demonstrating to their children how to deal with anger by showing them how they deal with anger. If children see their parents “fly off the handle” and yell and scream and rant and rave at one another they are sending a message to their children that that is what you do when angry.

Husbands and wives often get upset with little things but fail to resolve them immediately and soon they grow into major issues and anger builds. It takes a conscious effort when we are angry to keep under control and deal with the issue wisely. A mature person, one that lives by God’s Word, always should exhibit understanding by keeping cool in a time of conflict.

Thomas Jefferson said on February 21, 1825: “When angry, count to ten before you speak; if you are very angry count to one hundred.” We add to his advice of long ago, while you are counting ask God for a calm spirit, a cool head and a tender heart.

In Proverbs 15:1 it reads that a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Try it! It really works!

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 1:6.

“Being confident of this very thing that He who has begun a good work in you shall perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

PRAYER:

Lord, help me to control my anger and restrain me from lashing out with angry and hurtful words when others give me a cause to be angry. Help me to set the right example for my children in the way I deal with my anger.