Only Appropriate Anger is Appropriate!
Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt
There was a time in my life many years ago, that I would occasionally erupt like a volcanic eruption. I am ashamed of those days. I do not and have not let that happen in my life in a great many years.
Anger is a valid emotion but one that has a boundary and whose line can too easily be crossed. We are instructed in Eph 4:26-27, “In your anger do not sin…” This verse is instructional and insightful. God clearly teaches us that, anger in itself is not sin, that it can be carried to the point of sin, and that it can give the devil a foothold. That literally means “giving the devil occupancy – a place to dwell.”
For some people, their anger not only crosses the line of inappropriateness into sinning but they practically inviting the devil to sit down at their table and sign a long term lease to live with them. How does that happen?
Anger unrestrained will lead to all kinds of outbursts that cause regret. People that sin in their anger seldom stay on the issue they are angry over. They often draw past offenses and hurts to the scene. This causes anger to swell. Then begin to mull over these extra offenses which will start to cause internal swelling to the original anger. That can become the early stage of rage which always leads to irrational thinking. Eruption is now brewing below the surface. Unbridled anger or rage leads to irrational thoughts that then lead to thoughts of every kind of evil. James 3:16 says it like this, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
As words begin to erupt from this anger, they begin to flow like lava and the devil now has a foothold. The words will be destructive and do damage to anyone in its path. In many cases, those words do long term damage that people may or may not recover from.
Gods wisdom tells us the danger in letting our anger ever cross the boundaries of inappropriateness.
Proverbs 27:4 says, “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming…” Prov 14:17 says, “A quick-tempered man does foolish things….
You need to take on God’s temperament. Psalms 103:8 reveals, “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” God isn’t expecting people to meet His perfection. He had Jesus come and do that. Jesus was the only one who could. God is driven by love to help people make progress with great patience.
To keep anger from turning to rage, limit yourself to how much you think about or mull it over. Speak few words about it as words cause anger to grow. Pray to ask God to help you forgive – seek forgiveness for your own personal faults at the time of your anger toward someone else. Finally, pray for that person from a spirit of love and faith with the sincere desire to help them.
Eph 4:26-27, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
In His love,
Pastor Tim
Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2009 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground...
