Anger: October 21, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 21, 2014.

ANGER

DEFINITION:

A strong feeling of displeasure by a real or supposed wrong; a sudden violent displeasure accompanied by an impulse to retaliate.

SCRIPTURE:

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you. Ephesians 4:31.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Anger is a strong and dangerous emotion. Anger motivates people to make bad decisions that often lead to violence. People do things in a fit of anger that they otherwise would never do. We see this to be true each and every day, and it has been going on since the fall of Adam because as we read in Genesis 4:5, Cain was very angry and his anger led him to kill his brother Abel.

God does not say that we will not get angry. He wants us to control our anger and handle it wisely and in a proper way. The writer of Proverbs (29:11) tells us to be wise and keep our anger under control. Paul’s advice to us in Ephesians 4:26 is to not allow anger to cause us to be evil and sin.

Yes, God himself gets angry but this does not justify our anger. What angers God is the godlessness and wickedness of people (Romans 1:18). In Numbers 32:13 we read that “the Lord’s anger burned against Israel and He made them wander in the desert for 40 years, until a whole generation of those who had done evil in His sight was gone.” God’s anger is always justified and His punishment is always just.

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. When parents get angry with a child they need to stop and think if their anger is justified.

One of the concepts we attempted to teach our children, using verses from the Bible, was that when one was angry he or she never came out a winner. In Proverbs 17:27 it reads, “He who has knowledge restrains his words.” This means that we need to keep to ourselves words that we know could ignite anger in others. Certain personalities have trouble with this concept because just by their nature they want to stir up conflict. It seems to be inheritant in all of us to want to get in the last word.

Words spoken in anger and things done in anger are really regretted after the fact. But then it is too late to undo the harm that was done. Angry words are rather like toothpaste; you cannot put it back into the tube.

In Proverbs 17:27 we read that, “A man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” A man of understanding is someone who is truly wise. To be of calm spirit means to be even-tempered. To be a person of understanding and a calm spirit we need to follow Paul’s instruction and get rid of all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking. (Ephesians 4:31)

The key to controlling anger is to stop when a conflict begins and ask God for a calm spirit and a cool head. Remember what the Proverbs says in 15:1, A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

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

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 100:4.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

PRAYER:

Help me to control my anger and restrain me from lashing out with mean and hurtful words when others give me cause to be angry. Give me self-control in all of my words and deeds and may others see the fruits of the Spirit controlling my life