March 13 – Anger Danger: Losing Control

“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.” – Jas 1:19-20 

Be slow to wrath, because the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.  Again, not all anger is forbidden. It does not say to never be angry; but to be slow to anger.  The problem with anger is what it can “produce” or lead to.

Proverbs 14:17 – “He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.”

Let’s get what this proverb is saying…A quick-tempered man acts foolishly.  Not all anger is sinful, but we must be careful that it does not become a sin.  (Prov. 29:22)

Anger can cause me to blow up and “lose control.”

Many times, psychologists encourage folks to “vent” their anger.  If a husband or a wife becomes angry, they are to say whatever they think, because it enables them to get it out of their system.  It is said that this approach also releases tension.  They will often say to let your children throw “temper-tantrums,” scream, and even call their parents horrible names.

But the Bible tells us in Proverbs 29:11, 20

Pro 29:11  A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Pro 29:20  Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Is the psychologist correct, or is God correct?

The problem with anger is that it may lead us to lose control of our conduct and lash out at others with foolish words or deeds that are intended to hurt others and may be regretted later. By contrast, a wise man will control himself, even when he is angry.

The Bible teaches that our words and deeds are controlled by our thoughts. Pro 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

I must learn to control my thoughts and emotions, because harboring sinful thoughts will lead to sinful conduct. (Matt. 15:18)

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32

Not all anger is sinful (as we will look at tomorrow), but we should do away with anger that is not in accordance with God’s holiness.  Anger is sinful when it leads us to lose control or to act in other sinful ways.