Sun 9:30a Class; 10:30a Worship; 11:35a Communion
Bible Bites
Anger Without Sin
It is a fact. The madder you are the harder it is to do right. We need to be “slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1.20). Yet anger alone is not sin. In fact the Bible speaks repeatedly of the anger of Jehovah (as in Psalm 90.7, 11 and 2 Kings 17.18).
Anger, however, calls for the greatest care, for it can become a destructive power. How great the danger to him who does not control his temper! “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city” (Proverbs 16.32).
“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” (Ephesians 4.26,27). Consider these specific sins caused by uncontrolled anger.
Cursing. Anger makes it difficult to control what we say. It is a quick and easy response to rain curses and imprecations upon the object of our fury, whether persons or things. James says that our tongue “is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men... from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way” (3.8-10). This quickly becomes a habit hard to break, so don’t start.
Threats of revenge. The desire to “get even” often becomes so great that some are consumed by it. Romans 12 speaks plainly: “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone ... Never take your own revenge beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” Paul concludes, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (verses 17-21). Learn from Jesus: “While being reviled He did not revile in return; while suffering He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2.23).
Contentiousness. It is typical of hot-tempered men to try to share their anger. Often they will not rest until all are in a fury . “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger pacifies contention” (Proverbs 16.18). “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer contention quiets down. Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife” (Proverbs 26.20, 21).
Bitterness. Unrelenting resentment. Peter called it gall (Acts 8.23). It will poison the personality of anyone who cherishes his anger who refuses to forgive and forget.
The warning is urgent: “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.”
