In Your Anger

by Joe Fitch

“Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26). Anger is not always a sin. God's anger – even his fierce anger was cited often in the Old Testament. Jesus also became angry – he “looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts ...” (Mark 3:5). Being like Jesus means developing the right kind of anger rather than trying to eliminate anger.

The root of anger must be right. Cain! – “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?” (Genesis 4:6). The why is really vital. Cain's anger had a bad root – envy. Abel's sacrifice was accepted; his was not. Sound disturbingly familiar? How about this? – he prospered; I did not – or they listen to him; not me – or he was invited; not me – they compliment him; ignore me – my feelings are hurt. Beware! Anger with a selfish or mean root always bears bitter fruit. You must correct the why of anger or “sin lies at the door” (Genesis 4.7). Anger can never be right while the why is wrong.

“Be angry” does not require anger. There is very little need to encourage anger! Rather, the sentence warns of anger's inherent dangers – in your anger “sin not …nor give place to the devil.” Yet, some situations actually do expect anger – a righteous anger. Moses came down from Sinai and found Israel embroiled in idolatry and revelry (Exodus 32:1). Should Moses be indifferent? No! Burning anger was the proper response to their insult of Jehovah. God did not reprimand Moses. Throwing down the stone tablets was not proper; but his anger was right. In another case, Potiphar came home to his wife crying about an assault on her by Joseph. She displayed evidence to support her allegations (Genesis 39:1). Should Potiphar be angry? – incensed? Of course, he should! Her accusation was a lie; her evidence was wrong. However, Potiphar's anger was exactly right. Again, a fellow ridicules and slanders a brother – in Christ. Should you be angry? Yes! He is your brother – a son of God. I dare say you are seriously wrong if you are not angry.

The expression of anger must be right. This is an easy place to err. Anger's emotion easily clouds judgment – easily ignores truth – easily steps over the bounds of right. In Cain's anger, he refused to listen – even to God. He murdered his brother; he lied to God afterward. That is anger gone amuck. Don't do that!

Anger must not void self control. In no circumstance can self control be sacrificed. “I will not be brought under the power of any” (I Corinthians 6:12) – not even anger. You may be justifiably angry; you can not afford to be mad! Anger is often right; rage is never right. The danger in anger is so great that we must approach all anger with great caution. We must learn to be “slow to anger “ (James 1:19) – just as God is (Psalms 103:8; 145:8). Thus, we avoid many terrible disasters.

In anger, how do you behave? Do you throw a tantrum? Scream and holler? Stomp and kick? Throw things? Seethe and pout? Anger may occasionally be right, but such unrestrained behavior is never right. It is absolutely wrong – sin!

In anger, what do you say? Do you “cuss” – burst out in profanity? Do you spew out insulting, hateful, and mean invectives. This is frequently anger's vocabulary. Do you falsely accuse those who anger you? Do you call people contemptuous and ugly names? (Matthew 5:22) Do you spread rumors? – carry gossip? Anger may be right, but all such malicious speech surely is not. It is wrong – sin!

In anger, what do you do? Cain was angry with Abel, and killed him. In your anger, do you also do harm to people? – do hurtful things? Do you stir up strife? (a favorite tactic of anger.) “An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man abounds in transgression” (Proverbs 29:22). Anger is permitted; malicious conduct is not. It is wrong – sin.

In anger, do you accuse God? Anger often criticizes God. Anger blames God even when the incident was not God's doing. Job knew better than that. “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong” (Job 1:22). In anger, we boldly judge whether God did the right thing. Even David was caught in that snare. “And David became angry because of the LORD's outbreak against Uzzah ...” (II Samuel 6:8). Anger may be right, but judging God is surely none of our business!. In fact, it is arrogantly wrong – sin!

The duration of anger must be right – “do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26). Brief is the only safe time frame for anger – even right anger. A long visit with anger will see the acid consume its container. Learn from God who “does not retain His anger forever” (Micah 7:18). Let it go!