06/30/2017
Carrying anger or hatred in us for long periods of time, that is my concentration this morning. Do we resolve issues quickly and move to forgive in a timely manner, or are we suffering as we carry that baggage day after day. What does God's Word tell usabout this?
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV
This verse often catches people off guard when they read it. Most feel that being angry is sinful, but it is not... how about being filled with wrath or even hating something? Nope they aren't either; otherwise God would not be without sin. There will be things in life that will make us angry... we will feel hatred and even move beyond simple anger to becoming wrathful, or even into hate! But, these are not emotions and states of mind that we should tolerate for long... scripture tells us as much.
“Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.”
Matthew 5:25 ESV
When I am walking down the street I can look at the crowd passing by and pick out those who are angry by the expression on their face, and I can visit a retirement home and tell you who has carried anger and hatred with them most of their lives. The lines that are etched into their faces and present a permanent scowl that tells everyone who sees them... "I am not a happy person."
Unfortunately, the effects of harboring these feelings are more than skin deep; they affect the health and mental wellbeing of the carriers too, and damage our bodies, our mental state, and our faith. If not resolved, and resolved quickly, we will experience lasting damage.
So we are told to resolve our issues with one another quickly; we are told that vengeance belongs to the Lord, and we are instructed to forgive! These acts remove the poison from our bodies and minds; while allowing us to return to God unencumbered.
Have you ever had an argument with someone and tried to approach God before resolving that disagreement? It is not only hard to reach that place where our prayers bring us into the presence of God, but our attitudes and words themselves are serving as barriers to our relationship with Him, and we just don't feel much like praying. It isn't the anger that is a sin, but anything that separates us from God.
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV
Sometimes we can't seem to resolve issues with people. Try as we might, we can't reach consensus, or return a relationship to a good place... in those instances we are in mortal and physical danger. Without a resolution we may become bitter, and sufferill effects in not only our relationship with other people, but bodily, mentally, and in our relationship with God. Scientist are only now discovering the effects of stress and anger on the body and mind, but the Bible dealt with this connection long ago. God spoke to resolving it, and even gave us a cure... forgiveness.
I wrote yesterday about cutting off the right hand, and this is one of those times when we must separate ourselves from what is standing between God and ourselves. One sided forgiveness allows us to return to a place of peace within ourselves, but if the tip of the thorn remains, it will just continue to fester... we must remove it... separate ourselves from it, and this is often a painful decision. I know of no child who doesn't cry and attempt to pull their hand back when a parent attempts to remove a thorn from their finger. Sometimes we fear the solution more than the problem. Did Jesus feel this way in the Garden of Gethsemane when He asked for the cup to pass from Him? Maybe.
“Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”
Proverbs 22:24-25 ESV
We have many sayings that attempt to address situations like this; sayings such as "a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down", and "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." We have known the problem, and the cure, for a long time, but it isn't until we apply the healing power of God's Word to it that we can successfully deal with both.
So the solution is to resolve issues quickly, let go of our anger, return to a state of love, forgive, and if it should be necessary... separate ourselves from the cause so that we can successfully apply one-sided forgiveness. Then the benefits will be realized; we won't have a permanent scowl, the neighborhood children won't refer to us as a grouchy old man, others will be glad to see us coming, our good health will remain intact, and most of all... our relationship with God will be restored to its full glory.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your Word that instructs me on removing anger, wrath, and hatred from my life. I thank you for providing a way in which I can drain off the poison that attempts to harm my relationship with you. I realize that I should detest and even hate such things as sin, but don't let my anger with others become unrighteous and result in strife, or lead to transgressions. Father give me the strength, determination, and wisdom needed to resolve conflicts, and put anger behind me. Help me to love my neighbor enough to overcome all conflict, and to do so quickly in order to avoid any ill effect. Give me courage Lord, because I know that the cure for my anger and hatred is often painful, and walking away from addressing it seems like the least painful thing to do... lead me courageously through a solution, and if one can't be found then give me the strength of character needed to forgive where none is returned. Let nothing stand in the way of extracting all traces of conflict from me, and returning me to you with a pure heart... free of the lingering effects that would inevitably eat at me, and my faith, if left unchecked.
Rich Forbes
“A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.”
Proverbs 29:22 ESV