Introduction
The Bible asks us to keep away from anger. To reduce instances of anger we need to know the Lord’s perspective of anger, clearly given in the Bible. We need to strongly desire to walk in obedience to the Lord’s perspective of anger. We have a key strategy for greatly reducing anger tucked in this post.
God’s perspective about anger
While there are many verses about anger in the Bible, we choose 2 verses.
James 1:19-20
Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]; for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behaviour which He requires from us]. ( version AMP)
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (version KJV)
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. (version NIV)
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. (version NLT)
Since you have read 4 versions, you would have got a direct clue on what the Lord is telling us.
Mathew 5:22 conveys how anger can make a person guilty, even be in danger of fiery hell.
But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice against him shall be guilty before the court; and whoever speaks [contemptuously and insultingly] to his brother, ‘Raca (You empty-headed idiot)!’ shall be guilty before the supreme court (Sanhedrin); and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fiery hell.
Are we angry with a select few?
When I was trying to understand myself over some time, I discovered that often I express anger with people who do not have any voice, power or influence over me. This discovery led to great shame within me. Probably I restrain and control myself when it comes to being angry with others. What hypocrisy?
When people have power and authority, I am able to control my anger. When people are known to be angry by nature, I control my emotions and do not express my anger. All these reminded me that I was being selective in expressing my anger.
Good to see if some of us are like me. Taking a break and self-examining ourselves is a good thing to do.
Benefits of being free of anger
There are many benefits as you decide to keep away from anger. You will be surprised that you will have better relationships with many. You will be known as a person who can take charge of any situation, including yourself.
- Paths to evil is blocked.
Cease from anger and abandon wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evil. ( Psalm 37:8) - Understanding increases.
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. ( Proverbs 14:29) - Righteousness of God.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20) - Discretion and glory
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. (Proverbs 19:11) - Increase in love
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. (Proverbs 10:12) - Increase in friendship
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go. (Proverbs 22:24)
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. (Proverbs 22:24-25) - Heaven. Freedom from judgement.
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. (Matthew 5:22) - Become a servant of God
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Colossians 3:12-13)
