5 Truths About Anger

We all get angry a time or two and express our anger in different ways.  Some of us find ourselves driving down the street with the burning desire to flash our middle finger in the face of the one who cut us off on the highway.  Some of us readily offer a piece of our minds to the ones who have irritated us.  While some of us in anticipation of foul play, brag about what we will do to anyone who crosses us the wrong way, toting around our anger problem as if it were a badge of honor.  This is not good.

Being angry is not necessarily a bad thing.  Things are going to happen in life in which the only appropriate emotion to express is anger.  As a matter of fact God expressed anger several times in the bible.   The problem occurs when we give our emotion of anger over to the enemy, allowing him to rule our emotions instead of God.  This transfer of authority occurs when we allow our anger to linger way too long, consume us, or cause us to act in an uncontrolled, ungodly fashion.

The bible records the unfortunate account of King Saul.  Having resisted the Holy Spirits promptings for so long, Saul was left with uncontrolled emotions.  He had an anger problem that directly resulted from being controlled by the wrong spirits.  In 1 Samuel 19 the account is told, when in a fit of rage he attempted to kill David by throwing a javelin at him seeking to pin him to a wall.  Now, if that wasn’t bad enough in the very next chapter (1 Samuel 20) Saul attempts to kill his own son, Jonathan in a fit of rage.  Saul indeed had an anger problem.

God in His mercy realized that we were going to wrestle with the spirit of anger.  Being a loving God, He supplied us with several biblical truths we must consider when facing this issue.  His counsel is sure and will help each of us recognize our need to control our anger.

1. Anger Prevents the Development of Rightesousness. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20.  Let’s be honest.  When was the last time you felt like being spiritual when you were consumed with anger? It’s hard for us to draw close to God when we are filled with competing spirits.  It is the devil’s intention for the spirit of anger to put a wedge in between us and God.  .
2. Anger Causes You to Act Like a Fool. A fool is defined as one who acts unwisely or imprudently, a silly person.  No one wants to be considered a fool.  Yet, uncontrolled anger can have us doing and saying things that no one short of fool would do or say.  The bible gives this insight, “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9
3. Anger Stirs up dissension: An angry person is always causing problems.  Their anger seeps out of their spirit like a poison spreading its negative effects all around.   The Bible says, “A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” Proverbs 15:18
4. Anger Cause the Loss of Friends. The vibes that come from an angry person are not inviting.  Actually they are quite repulsive and because of this the Bible instructs us to, “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:” Proverbs 22:24
5. Those Who Control Anger are Great. The bible says, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Proverbs 16:32.  The ability to take control of our emotions is a great and necessary feat. Folks look for greatness often in all the wrong places, when they should first start with controlling their tempers.

As we travel through this Christian journey let’s make a commitment to remember these 5 simple truths about anger.

So, what are your thoughts on this topic?  How have you learned to control your temper?  Please leave your insights by commenting below.  Also, please share this post and subscribe to my blog.  Have a great week and be blessed!