12/11/2020
Do we flirt with sin in our lives, and think that we will not yield to it? There is enough temptation in this world without purposely seeking out its company, or not removing ourselves from situations whose natural outcome is anger, and sin. We read scripture about anger, and are told not to tarry in it, because pots brought to a boil will eventually boil over. Certain things in life are not sins, in and of themselves, but are catalysts that lead to sin. If the love of money is the root of all evil then anger is its close companion. Anger is the cradle in which sin is rocked, and given into the world.
“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
Much like money, anger in itself is not a sin, but its like a lantern that draws the moths of sinfulness into its light. The passion of anger clouds our good judgement; it brings our emotions to a frothing boil until at last we can stand it no longer and sin erupts from within its fury... from within us.
“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.”
Psalm 37:8 ESV
We are so prone to anger and inclined to fall victim to sin as we swirl uncontrollably about it’s flame, that we make special compensation for sins committed while under its influence... in human law we call these sins “crimes of passion”, and their punishment is lessened... tempered by our human understanding of anger’s power over us. Yet the Word of God warns us of its danger, and tells us not to yield to it...
“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.”
Ecclesiastes 7:9 ESV
So how are we to combat our natural inclination to become angry, and if we should yield to it, how do we put it behind us before our wings of righteousness are caught aflame by sin, and we fall in a blaze of it? The Bible gives us advice regarding how we should resist our anger, if we will listen to its wisdom...
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
James 1:19-20 ESV
I have heard Christians justify their fits of anger, and the harm it does, by saying that God experiences anger, and that is true, He does, but God is not like us, and His ability to temper His anger far exceeds ours. He is slow to anger, and His nature reins it in. God’s love overcomes His anger.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
God’s control of anger is so different from ours. We seldom gain control over our anger once it has ignited, and has started to burn within us, we fester over it, and bring it to a stronger boil with every minute that passes. This is why our opening two verses (Ephesians 4:26-27) tell us not to let the sun go down on our anger. An angry man might use this mention of anger to justify that he has permission to remain angry all day long, but that is not what scripture is telling us here; we are being told to put it behind us quickly, and by all means, not to carry it into the night. God has absolute control over His anger, but we do not; our anger must be brought under control quickly lest we fall into eminent sin.
“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”
Psalm 86:15 ESV
But even if we fail, and our anger follows us into the night, we are given instructions regarding this as well. We are told to wrestle with it in the night before it brings us to sin, and to defeat it by pondering it in our hearts until we can eventually find peace, and silence again.
“Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah”
Psalm 4:4 ESV
Are you angry about something today? Is it over a situation, or at someone? Whatever is causing anger to rise up in you needs to be addressed right now, and not allowed to fester. Don’t give Satan the foothold he searches for because in your anger you are weakened, and as the transformed man of Christ wrestles to subdue your old sinful selves once more, your control over him becomes precarious. Through prayer and leaning on God’s Word, put away the anger that leads you to the doorstep of sin.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for teaching us how to control our passions by giving us instruction in resisting our anger. Thank you for revealing through your love and faithfulness that anger can be bridled, and brought under control. Help us Lord to use your approach to anger as our guide, and your warning that we are not like you to stop us from entering into our uncontrollable anger; the doorway to sin. Give us strength Father such that we can take pause, pondering in our hearts, and upon our beds, the sin that most certainly lies ahead. Strengthen our faith so that we can put our anger behind us and find your merciful peace once more. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who placed anger under your control, by conquering it with love, and mercy. Praised be your name for every moment of pause you give us vas we confront our rising anger with prayer, and your Holy Word. Great are you who strengthens us, and shows us in Christ how we should behave in the face of anger, and treat the anger that seeks to take control of us. Wash us in the blood of Jesus, and let our anger not be vile, and from within our own nature, but like Christ’s that we saw Him display in the temple... righteous, and at the direction of your will and just hand.
“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
Rich Forbes