"Cease from Anger"

"Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing" (Psalm 37:8).

Anger seems to be something that Christians do not like to talk about very much. It’s one of those ‘secret’ sins that seems to not receive enough attention until… an explosion occurs! Anger can get the best of any of us and at any time; just because we are named for Christ does not carry with it an everlasting immunization against anger’s infection.

The book of James tells us, "This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God" (James 1:19-20). Also, Solomon gave advice in Proverbs, "A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless. A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated" (Proverbs 14:16-17). Anger is a symptom of something deeper, something more troubling for that individual and after the right button is pushed, anger rises.

The Bible teaches that a cool head is always the best advice. "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city" (Proverbs 16:32). A good example was Isaac. In Genesis 26, Isaac’s servants dug a well and the herdsmen of Gerar said, “the water is ours,” so Isaac moved away and dug anther well and the herdsmen again complained to him, so what did Isaac do? Isaac packed up and moved again, he had his servants dig another new well and at last Isaac said, “now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” Isaac could have gotten angry and gone to battle over the wells but what would that have gotten him? A bad name for sure and despised enemies…

Heavenly Father, give us wisdom on how to be angry at sin but not at the sinner for whom you died for. Forgive us when angry crops up and may we quickly repent and humble ourselves to you and others during such a time…