SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1211

“Temper, Temper”

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. – James 1:19-20

Our society is on a hair trigger. It seems that a day does not go by without hearing news of a road rage incident or of a domestic violence incident that escalated out of anger.

Is anger sin? The Bible tells us about the wrath of God and of the times He was angry.

The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty… – Numbers 14:18

We are told about the time that Jesus overturned the money changers’ tables in the Temple.

And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. – John 2:15

The Word of God also tells us that Jesus was sinless.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Corinthians 5:21

Therefore, anger is not a sin, but what we do and the motive for what we do with our emotion of anger can be sin.

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil. – Ephesians 4:26-27

PRIDE: When we act out in anger because of our pridefulness we sin. Some cause others bodily harm because they feel that the person disrespected them. Some speak harsh and hurtful words to those whom they feel have bruised their ego and their pride gives full vent to their anger.

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall; Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. – Proverbs 16:18,32

ANXIETY: Many people are flat out stressed out. They feel fearful and uneasy. The pressures of life, the economy, family, and workplace have worked their last nerve. It does not take much at that point to trigger an anger and rage response. Our worry and anxiousness are a sin that has its roots in our pride. We are doing it all on our own and not relying on God. We are going our own way while neglecting our relationship with Jesus.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. – Proverbs 29:11

Refrain from anger and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. – Psalm 37:8

PROVOCATION: Some people, sometimes the ones closest to you, know which buttons to push that will trigger an anger response. The reasons why they do so are many and varied. Regardless, the burden is upon us to manifest the peace of God that comes from His indwelling, abiding presence.

When we respond to provocation in a like manner we sin and act foolishly.

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. – Proverbs 19:11

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. – Proverbs 15:1

May the peace of God fill your heart and mind and purge you of all anxiousness.

May the Holy Spirit give you the soft answer necessary to diffuse conflict and may He give you the good sense to be slow to anger and overlook an offense.