So, you were up for a big promotion at work, and it seemed like a done deal, until your co-worker got it instead . . . anger? Maybe, you were late for an appointment and got stopped by every traffic light and then, trying to dodge traffic, you suddenly stop and get rear ended . . . anger? What about the time when you and your spouse had a huge disagreement over responsibilities or finances . . . anger? There are so many situations in our lives that happen every day that can cause us anger. It usually happens in four stages: the buildup, the spark, the explosion, and the aftermath. Our job is to make sure that the explosion does not cause us to sin, having to deal with the messy consequences of the aftermath. That is why Paul said, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath” (Eph. 4:26).
Numerous times in the Old Testament God was angry. He was angry with Moses and Solomon (Deu. 1:37; 4:21; 1 Kings 11:9) and He was “very angry” with Aaron (Deu. 9:20) and Israel (2 Kings 17:18). Yet, He was still “slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” (Psa. 103:8). Also, Jesus was angry with those who were buying and selling in the temple (Mat. 21:12,13), with the hard-hearted Pharisees (Mark 3:5), and even as Mary was weeping at his feet over the death of Lazarus (John 11:33).
So, if God and Jesus were both angry, it is not a sin (1 Pet. 2:22). However, it can become sinful if we are not careful. For instance, if our anger leads us to use profanity or other “evil speaking” we have sinned (Eph. 4:29-31). If we hold on to wrongs against us and allow anger to become a grudge, cause us not to forgive the penitent, or let it lead to hatred, we have sinned (James 5:9; Eph. 4:32; Gal. 5:20). If we are angry with a brother or sister in Christ and refuse to resolve the situation, we have sinned (Mat. 5:21-26). If we allow anger to turn into wrath or intense fury that doesn’t go away, we have sinned (James 1:20).
The difficulty for every Christian is self-control (Gal. 5:23). Nobody gives us as many problems as we give to ourselves. However, if we can learn to allow ourselves to live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit every day (Gal. 5:25) our lives will be better and we will be happier, especially when it comes to anger. Someone has said, “A person who is angry on the right grounds, against the right persons, in the right manner, at the right moment, and for the right length of time deserves great praise.”
Derrick Coble
Numerous times in the Old Testament God was angry. He was angry with Moses and Solomon (Deu. 1:37; 4:21; 1 Kings 11:9) and He was “very angry” with Aaron (Deu. 9:20) and Israel (2 Kings 17:18). Yet, He was still “slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” (Psa. 103:8). Also, Jesus was angry with those who were buying and selling in the temple (Mat. 21:12,13), with the hard-hearted Pharisees (Mark 3:5), and even as Mary was weeping at his feet over the death of Lazarus (John 11:33).
So, if God and Jesus were both angry, it is not a sin (1 Pet. 2:22). However, it can become sinful if we are not careful. For instance, if our anger leads us to use profanity or other “evil speaking” we have sinned (Eph. 4:29-31). If we hold on to wrongs against us and allow anger to become a grudge, cause us not to forgive the penitent, or let it lead to hatred, we have sinned (James 5:9; Eph. 4:32; Gal. 5:20). If we are angry with a brother or sister in Christ and refuse to resolve the situation, we have sinned (Mat. 5:21-26). If we allow anger to turn into wrath or intense fury that doesn’t go away, we have sinned (James 1:20).
The difficulty for every Christian is self-control (Gal. 5:23). Nobody gives us as many problems as we give to ourselves. However, if we can learn to allow ourselves to live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit every day (Gal. 5:25) our lives will be better and we will be happier, especially when it comes to anger. Someone has said, “A person who is angry on the right grounds, against the right persons, in the right manner, at the right moment, and for the right length of time deserves great praise.”
Derrick Coble