By Philip Schroeder
First Baptist Church Bulverde
 

“You won’t like me when I’m angry,” says Bruce Banner right before he becomes The Incredible Hulk. The truth is, no one is very likeable when they are angry.

Anger can be a motivation for great good or great evil. The Bible never says, “Don’t get angry.”

However, it does say, “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down when you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-27).

The key is that we ought to get angry only for the right reasons: sin, injustice, evil.

The Bible tells us not to hang onto our anger because anger is a breeding ground for sin. It can lead us to do things we will regret later. Although anger itself is not a sin, I believe that losing one’s temper is wrong. It means losing control, or to put it another way, it means allowing your anger to control you.

Anger is a dangerous thing. It is best to either work out issues with other people right away, or let it go. Hanging on to anger is like holding a burning ember. It burns the one holding it. Anger eats us up from the inside. It destroys relationships with both God and people.

Human anger is rarely for the right reasons.

“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” (James 1:19-20).

True Christian love prevents us from getting angry so quickly.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not easily angered” (I Corinthians 13:4-5).

Pride and selfishness are at heart of a quick temper.

People who allow their anger to control them are dangerous. “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” (Proverbs 22:24-25).

Sometimes we brag, “You don’t want to make me angry.” Having a reputation for a bad temper is nothing to be proud of.

“An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins” (Proverbs 29:22).

Instead, we should be known for reacting calmly to all circumstances. Anger and sin walk hand in hand.

“But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips” (Colossians 3:8).

Notice that most of these things go together. In Christ, we can overcome the sin of a hot temper.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22).

Let these things, not anger, be what we are known for.