Don’t make me angry! ∙∙
Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. – James 1:20
Ephesians 4:26-27
26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
Dr. Bruce Banner, also known as The Incredible Hulk, transforms into a green-skinned, rage-fueled beast when angered or provoked. The Hulk is a central character in the Marvel Comics universe and is best known for his famous catchphrase, “Don’t make me angry!”
Anger? What is anger? It is a common human emotion and part of the everyday human experience. Even the Father experiences anger. The Father gave us the ability to feel anger as well. However, the Father is holy, righteous, and totally sinless. He feels and expresses anger differently than fallen people.
There are three primary sources of anger:
- Not getting your own way
- Having your way blocked
- Unmet expectations
Anger isn’t a one-size-fits-all emotion. All anger is not the same. Anger exists along a continuum from mild to extreme. It may manifest as frustration, irritation, or seething, explosive, uncontrollable, murderous rage. And, of course, it may arise anywhere in between.
But what does anger truly achieve? Sadly, these are not the righteous outcomes our Father seeks.
James 1:20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things God wants done (James 1:20, The CEV).
Uncontrolled anger and rage are essentially pointless. They are an exercise in futility. So stop kidding yourself. Short tempers and thoughtless words only stir up strife.
Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
James 1:19 You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
We have the ability to manage our responses. In His wisdom, the Father gave us a practical lesson by designing us with two ears and only one mouth. Engage your intellect and develop strategies to overcome useless, futile reactions to real or perceived offenses. Be sensible and exercise prudence.
Proverbs 19:11 Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking an offense.
REFLECT & PRAY
An angry person stirs up dissension and starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin (Proverbs 29:22).
Father how many children of the King struggle with anger and rage? It is almost as though a savage beast lives within us, trapped within a cage of our human bodies. Now and then, we open the door. Please help me to control my anger.
INSIGHT
The wrath of individuals doesn’t bring about any positive outcomes and, in fact, often results in unnecessary complications and unintended harm. Therefore, it would be prudent to keep our anger in check as much as possible.
There are those amongst us who harbor a simmering rage within them, which frequently erupts uncontrollably. These individuals could be described as having a short fuse. Webster’s dictionary defines such a hot-tempered disposition as being prone to anger quickly. Unfortunately, their emotional restraint is akin to that of a volatile velociraptor. In such situations, Solomon’s wisdom serves as a warning.
Proverbs 19:19 Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.
Proverbs 25:28 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.
Paul provides a strategy for dealing with it.
Ephesians 4:26-27
26 Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
As fallen people, we tend to hold on to anger and harbor resentment. Regrettably, this anger can become embedded in our personality, taking on a life of its own. It becomes a part of our character. It seeps into our core, occupying a permanent space in our innermost psyche. This anger starts to warp our sensitivity and thought processes, causing us to find fault and become irritable without any foundation in fact. Some people even develop paranoia, feeling as though the world is conspiring against them. One wise sage once said, “The world is not sentient; it does not know you exist. It is not out to get you.”
The peace of God and inner joy and satisfaction that the Father offers to each child of the King are often conspicuously missing in such individuals. Peace and joy simply cannot coexist with anxiety, frustration, anger, and bitterness. Anger left unchecked all too frequently results in depression and a desire for revenge.
In essence, the Scriptures perceive anger as rebellion against the living God.
Numbers 15:30 But the person who does anything with a high hand . . . (NAS)
Numbers 15:30 But those who brazenly violate the LORD’s will . . . (NLT)
Numbers 15:30 But the person who acts defiantly . . . (NET)
In the original Hebrew, the phrase, translated as brazenly violate, acts defiantly, with a high hand, is beyad ramah. Beyad ramah is an expression of arrogant, deliberate defiance “in spite of what the LORD said” (NET notes). It is a graphic word picture of a person filled with rage shaking a clenched fist. Try to visualize this in your mind. Can you see an angry person shaking their fist in the air? Ask yourself what is on the other end of this defiant high hand. Could they be shaking it in the unseen face of the Father God? In this case, unrestrained anger is ultimately a deliberate, intentional act of sin.
Anger is a form of toxin that harms our character, our relationships with others, and our ability to connect deeply with the Father. It pains the Father’s heart when His children are consumed by anger. When we are clenched in rage, we are unable to receive and appreciate His blessings.
Ephesians 4:30 states: “Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.”
Is there hidden anger within you? Is it so deeply buried that you’re oblivious to its existence? Seek the Father’s help to uncover what is concealed. Make a firm decision to let it go and not welcome it back into your life.
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© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 