Eph 4:26, 31 says “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:..........Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger… be put away from you, with all malice.” This seems like a contradiction, until you look a little closer. The first type of anger is a righteous anger. An anger that comes from the born again spirit. An anger that is righteous, holy, and pure. An anger like Jesus had when He cleansed the Temple (Jn 2:13-17). A hatred for Satan, and all of his evil ways. A holy hatred for the things that God hates. So, we’re commanded to be angry; yet, we’re not to sin. Jesus wasn’t operating according to the flesh when he drove out the money changers. He didn’t “fly off the handle”. He had a righteous anger. He was angry “with a cause” (Mt 5:22). It was controlled. It was righteous. It was holy zeal. We’re not to “let the sun set” on this type of anger. We need to constantly stand for truth, morality, and righteousness. Even if you’re the lone voice in this Godless culture; then be the lone voice. Do not grow weary in well doing (Gal 6:9).

The second type of anger is sadly the most common. It should be put away from you. It is of the flesh. It is rooted in selfishness and pride. It is unholy, unrighteous, and devilish. Tribulation and anguish awaits the person ruled by it (Rom 2:8-9). They will suffer punishment (Prv 19:19). They’ll hurt themselves and other people. They’ll lose jobs, friends, and relationships. Rage and anger are rooted in pride (Prv 21:24). A short tempered person is a prideful person. They cannot be challenged, disagreed with, or corrected. Their wrath is cruel, and their anger is overflowing like a deluge (Prv 27:4). Rage is always excessive. It doesn’t think- it just does. And then it regrets. It is impulsive. It must be put down.

Anger is a work of the flesh, and a characteristic of an unregenerate man (Gal 5:19-21). It should have no place in a Christian’s life. However, it seems so often to have place. One reason, is because it is excused. A short fuse is made out to be some minor glitch in someone’s personality. So, we often tolerate it. This is sinful. It should be hated. It should be despised when we see it in our lives; and no excuse should be made for it. Henry Drummond wrote in his book “The Greatest Thing In The World”: “The peculiarity of ill temper is that it is the vice of the virtuous. It is often the one blot on an otherwise noble character. You know men who are all but perfect, and women who would be entirely perfect; but for an easily ruffled, quick-tempered, or “touchy” disposition.”

We are not to make friends with an angry man, or go near him (Prv 22:24). Why? Because an angry man stirs up strife and abounds in sin (Prv 29:22). You hang around him, and you’ll be in a fight and in trouble in no time. Benjamin Franklin said, “Anger and folly walk cheek and jowl; repentance treads on both their heels”. The wise man is slow to anger. He’s not ruled by his flesh (Jam 1:19-20, Prv 14:29, 15:18, 16:32, 14:17, Ecc 7:9, Titus 1:7). He has great understanding; he is mighty; and he doesn’t deal foolishly.

Perhaps I’ve spoken to you today. Perhaps you feel the conviction of The Holy Spirit, and you want to know what to do to be free. Well let me help you. I can honestly say that I don’t lose my temper very often. But I cannot say that I never do. However, when I do, I don’t make excuses for it; nor do I blame someone else. In fact, I despise it when I see an ounce of it in me. The first step to freedom is taking responsibility for your own actions (Ps 51:3-4). The second step is asking forgiveness from God and those you have hurt in any way (1Jn 1:9). The third step is to acknowledge that you are a child of God, and the fruit of the spirit is self control (Gal 5:22-23). So, you are equipped to walk in victory and in peace. Cease from anger (Ps 37:8). Lift your hands and pray to God (1Tim 2:8). Answer softly (Prv 15:1). Use discretion (Prv 19:11). Turn away from wrath (Prv 29:8). Through the Spirit of Christ, you have the power to overcome. I pray this has helped you, and until next time, rejoice in The Lord!