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KEY VERSES ON
ANGER
Prov. 14:17: "A quick tempered man does foolish
things…"
This is the man who lacks the
patience to avoid foolish behavior. Rather than being a man of
self-control, he lets others push his buttons and control his
reactions. A quick tempered man must learn patience that is born of
discretion and learning to trust God.
Prov. 14:29: "A patient man has
great understanding, but a quick tempered man displays
folly."
Unnecessary trouble comes from
short-tempered words and actions. One who fails to control his
temper actually exalts foolishness in his life. In other words,
foolishness is such an obvious part of his life that everyone can
see it.
Prov. 15:1: "A gentle answer turns
away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
What a Christ-like person the man is
who is able to answer gently and softly someone who is angry and
attacking him. Such a person exhibits the fruit of the Holy Spirit
(self-control---Galatians 5:22) in a marvelous way. The tendency of
the sinful flesh is to retaliate with our tongues with harsh words.
Like ravenous wolves we are going to fend off an attacker by
showing that "we have fangs, too." There is nothing sadder than
watching two fools who claim to be Christians biting and devouring
each other. Let your words be gentle. Don't pour gas on the fire of
another angry person with harsh words.
Prov. 15:18: "A hot-tempered man
stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel."
Hotheaded persons create strife
between themselves and others. Those who are slow to anger, on the
other hand, have a calming influence on difficult
situations.
Prov. 16:32: "Better a patient man
than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a
city."
It takes more power and wisdom to
control one's temper than to plot and execute a successful attack
on an enemy city. To reign in anger takes more courage and strength
than to be a mighty warrior. But clearly this is a winnable war.
That is implied in the Proverb and declared in Galatians
5:22.
Prov. 19:11: "A man's wisdom gives
him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an
offense."
Discretion, having a plan, a
strategy is what enables a person to control his temper. We need to
learn to overlook offenses. We have that option. In fact, the verse
says that it is to the credit of the wise man to overlook
offenses.
Prov. 19:19: "A hot-tempered man
must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it
again and again."
There is no hope for a person short
of controlling his temper. If he fails to do so, he will find
himself in trouble again and again. It is not enough to deal with
the consequences of the latest tirade. There MUST be movement
toward change and self-control or we will just be going over the
same ground again and again.
Prov. 22:24-25: "Do not make friends
with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered,
or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared."
This speaks of the reality that we
influence others. We will influence those around us either for good
or for evil. The angry man will teach others how to be
undisciplined, quick-tempered people. The angry husband will create
and angry wife. The angry parent will create loud, hollering angry,
impatient children.
Prov. 29:22: "An angry man stirs up
dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins."
People who don't control their
temper don't go very long between sins. They are quick to commit a
truck load of sin. In fact, sin, hurt, and broken relationships
will characterize the lives of such people.
James 1:19-20: "My dear brothers,
take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to
speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring
about the righteous life that God desires."
In our sinful flesh, anger is an
automatic response toward anyone perceived to do harm or hurt
toward us. The word anger here is orge, which means a slow burning
inward resentment that seethes and smolders against another. Anger,
bitterness and resentment can never serve the cause of Christ. It
does not accomplish what is right in God's eyes. Before God's Word
can produce righteousness in us we must turn our back on our
sin.
Ephesians 4:26-27: "In your anger do
not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and
do not give the devil a foothold.
This passage exhorts of the danger
of staying angry. We are commanded here to not goto bed angry.
Today's problems are to be solved today, if at all possible. Anger
held on to turns to bitterness (Heb. 12:15). It gives Satan a
foothold in our lives to stir up malice, a spirit of revenge and
hatred. We make the choice to respond to certain situations with
anger. We can choose not to stay angry and we must.
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