Character and Discipline · Christian Life
What is anger?
6 min read, approximately
Ephesians 4:30-32
“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Put away from yourselves all bitterness, anger, wrath, shouting, slander, and every kind of malice. Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another just as God also forgave you in Christ.”
In answer, anger is an emotional state that arises for many reasons: when something bothers or irritates us, when we are humiliated or insulted, when we feel threatened, in response to injustice or misconduct, and so on. It can range from mild irritation to explosive rage that leads to harm or violence.
“Be angry, but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Ephesians 4:26)
The Word of God allows us to become angry. However, uncontrolled anger is harmful and destructive: it destroys us and those around us, displeases God, and gives the devil a foothold. That is why the Lord advises us not to harbor or embrace this feeling and let it persist… Instead, we should hurry to resolve the matter before the day ends!
Naaman’s example
“Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man in his master’s eyes and highly esteemed, because through him the LORD had brought deliverance to Syria. He was an extremely brave man, but he had leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:1)
One day,
“…Naaman came with his horses and chariot and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying: Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be clean. But Naaman went away angry, saying: I thought he would surely come out, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, raise his hand and touch the place, and heal the leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and also be clean? So he turned and went away angry.” (2 Kings 5:9-12)
And when he was about to leave,
“…his servants approached him and said: My father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he says to you: Wash, and you will be clean?” (2 Kings 5:13)
As he calmed down, he understood that the instruction was good, so
“…he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God. His flesh became like the flesh of a child, and he was clean.” (2 Kings 5:13-14)
What would have happened if Naaman had not controlled his anger?
Controlling anger
But what can we actually do to avoid anger?
\1. Although we all have some reason to become angry, we must understand that
“The person who is easily angered will do foolish things, and the perverse person will be hated. The simple will inherit foolishness, but the prudent will be crowned with wisdom.” (Proverbs 14:17-18)
\2. Beware of saying, “Move aside, Lord! I’ll handle this my way!”
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, because human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.” (James 1:19-20)
\3. Wise or foolish?
“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but whoever is impatient in spirit exalts foolishness.” (Proverbs 14:29)
\4. Wait! Calm down! Let us not wait until it is too late and say, “Why did I say that? Why did I do that?”
“Do not be quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger rests in the hearts of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7:9)
“Let go of wrath and put anger aside; do not become agitated in any way that leads to evil.” (Psalms 37:8)
\5. Becoming angry puts us at risk
“But I tell you that anyone who becomes angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; anyone who calls his brother a fool will be liable before the council, and anyone who calls him a worthless fool will be exposed to the fire of hell.” (Matthew 5:22)
\6. Let us control ourselves!
“Better is the one who is slow to anger than the mighty, and the one who rules his spirit than the one who captures a city.” (Proverbs 16:32)
“A person’s good sense restrains their fury, and it is their honor to overlook an offense.” (Proverbs 19:11)
\7. Let us think before responding or acting
“A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up fury. The tongue of the wise will adorn wisdom, but the mouth of fools will speak nonsense.” (Proverbs 15:1-2)
Let us remember that
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
\8. Is it unfair? Let us calm down and leave the matter in the Lord’s hands
“Do not avenge yourselves, my beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink, for by doing this you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:19-21)
\9. The best medicine for anger
“And when you are praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive your offenses.” (Mark 11:25)
“And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who owes us.” (Luke 11:4a)
“Then Peter approached him and said: Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him: I do not tell you up to seven, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22)
“Anger? No, thank you! I don’t want to end up alone.” Instead, let us focus on growing in the fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
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May God continue to bless you, and may you keep enjoying an excellent day in Christ Jesus!