In our Wisdom Series, we look at the topic of anger. Anger is a very common emotion, maybe more than we realize, but also a very strong emotion. Proverbs and the Bible has much to say about anger - when it is right, when it is wrong, and how to control it.
When we look at a number of passages, we can see how our anger can be used by God for His honor, our good and for the good of others. We will look at two main points: anger explained and anger harnessed.
Anger can be compared to a nuclear chain reaction. If uncontrolled it is a bomb and destructive. If it is processed correctly, it can provide energy to help us in our daily lives.
The key for anger is using the wisdom of the Lord to control this raw energy.
Anger Explained
Do you know why you get angry? You can name some causes but what is going on inside you when you are angry?
Anger is an emotional reaction against a perceived wrong done.
“It is a judging emotion.”
It protests that something should not have been done that way. An example is seeing someone abused and the anger we feel toward the situation. Anger can also be our reaction to something we didn’t want to happen, which should have been different. Here we can stub a toe or mishit a golf shot and we are angry that it turned out that way.
In anger I have some violated standard in my mind as I judge events around me. If the standards are good, we should be angry. Anger is beneficial in that often,
“good anger is a change agent to correct a situation.”
It motivates us and others to do something. Anger separates us from the wrong done as we protest what happened.
God is loving but also can be angry. His good standards are violated by our sin, which highlights one of its definitions of missing the mark. God’s ways are perfect and reflect His character.
If He would be passive to evil, He would be condoning it and really be evil. His anger is corrective first but if that goes unheeded, it can also be retributive.
This is also good as it shows that God’s standards are important and upheld.
The problem with anger for us is the standards we have and the resultant way we express anger. James 1:20 says the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. The key here is “of man”.
The standard becomes me and my happiness, comfort and pride which I judge events and people by. This anger is quick to pay back anyone, even myself, who violates what I want.
“Because it is centered on me, it can never reflect God and His character.”
My own anger from wrongs will never make things right. It is destructive. Really the only safe anger is anger in the Lord as He directs it.
Anger Harnessed
We will look at two parts to this: what harnessed anger looks like and then how to achieve it.
Exodus 34:6 says that God is merciful and loving and slow to anger. His anger is in the context of His other attributes.
His anger leads to right changes, which are loving and merciful.
We are to imitate the Lord and a number of verses from Proverbs show this kind of anger.
Proverbs 14:29 and 29:11 talk about anger being controlled and held back. Why is this important?
If we are slow to anger, it gives us a chance to evaluate what is happening and how to react correctly. This kind of anger considers others and wants to use anger for right reasons to help them.
Provers 19:11 and 16:32 mention how this anger benefits our own character.
Proverbs 15:1 and 22:24-25 and 30:33 reveal that we can descalate anger by kind words but also can increase anger by harsh words. Anger is also contagious so we need to be careful of hanging out with angry people.
So,
“our anger should be under control and slow like the Lord’s.”
We don’t take revenge, which is a good indicator if I have good or bad anger. This is the Lord’s job as Romans 12:17-19 show.
We can overlook wrongs and forgive knowing God will judge rightly.
If our anger should be this way, how can we do it? So often we corrupt good anger with pride and mess up the situation. We quickly realize we are inadequate in ourselves and this is the first step. We need the Lord.
Ephesians 4:21-5:2 gives several principles that help us have the power for right anger. The repeated pattern is to get rid of sin, replace it with good, and this is based on and empowered by our relationship with the Lord.
First, we recognize who the Lord is and that what He says is true. We need to be convinced of this before we take action.
Next, we then throw off our sinful attitudes, my pride and revenge, which are twisted. Instead we have the Spirit renew our minds and we put on our new identity and nature God has given.
Paul gives examples of lying, anger, unwholesome speech, and unforgiveness. We change as we see how God loves us and forgives us and keeps us. This melts our need to be angry in the wrong way as I don’t have to defend myself.
We replace the desire for anger and revenge with a greater desire to follow the Lord.
In application, where have you been angry lately? In comparing your anger with the principles here, what was good and bad about your anger? What needs to change? Do you need to ask someone for forgiveness for your anger?
We praise God that though He was angry from our sin, Jesus Christ took on this anger in our place so that anyone who trusts in Christ and His work, has forgiveness and a right relationship with God.
