Anger

I have to admit that, yet again, I had a bad attitude this morning. Something sparked it, and then like usual, I began to clean the bathrooms (I often resort to cleaning when I am upset). While cleaning I thought about the reason for my attitude and the actions that have a tendency to surface because of it.

Many verses started running through my head. I had to ask myself questions. I quickly became convicted at the final lingering question.

When was the last time I was able to say to someone, “I am not angry because you have wronged me, I am angry because you have wronged the Lord.”

At that point I decided that I would be doing a word study today on anger. Here is a list of the verses that I looked up and some of the thoughts that they provoked in me. I like to highlight fo emphasis on certain things. It makes it easier for me to grasp things when they are sticking straight out at me.

Psalm 145:8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

James 1:19-27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: ²⁰For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. ²¹Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. ²²But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. ²³For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: ²⁴For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. ²⁵But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. ²⁶If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. ²⁷Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

I love the oart where is says that the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Our anger is triggered by a blow to our pride, by fear, by the “need” to defend. But God's anger is not that way. When God is angrey with us we know that it is deserved.

Prov. 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city

Prov. 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

I love Proverbs 15. It talks about the way the rightious behave themselves verses the way the wicked and foolish (or lost) do. I love verse 28. the Heart studieth to answer. Do we bridal our tongues or are we pouring out words all over the place.

Prov. 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

I love too that the word MAN is used. The wrath of God will not issue the same result as the wrath of a man. The wrath of God brings conviction and repentance. It brings the truth to light.

Eph. 4:26-27 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: ²⁷Neither give place to the devil.

Heb. 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Anger is a part of life. It is natural. Jesus became angry. God gets angry. The Bible never tells us not to get angry. It tells us to be slow to anger. It tells us that when we are angry that we are not to sin, and that we need to deal with it before the day is done.

Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Lord, help us to remember You and Your word. When we look into the mirror, let us not forget what manner of man we are, but let us turn to You for help to overcome that man. When we are angry, let if endure but for a moment and help us not to sin in that anger. I pray that our hearts would be prepared to recignise quickly wither our anger be out of self or out of righteousness. I pray that we would not act in a way to protect our pride, but for Your sake we would willingly be humbled.

Gen. 49:7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

No one can denigh that when there is anger there is a feeling division and scattering, even within marriage and children. Is there a sense of division in my home, and has it been caused by me?

Col. 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

I thank God that He reminds us how our actions and attitudes affect our families. He does not wish His little children to be discouraged.

Jonah 4:4 Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?

Next time we are angry, lets just imagine the Lord asking us this question!!!

Other verses:

NEH. 9:17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

Ps. 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

Rom. 12:19-21 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. ¹⁸If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. ²⁰Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. ²¹Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Prov.22:24-25 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: ²⁵Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

Ps. 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Prov. 12:16 A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame

Prov. 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Prov. 19:9 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.