“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9 ESV
Anger is the result of one’s lack of ability to control their spirit. The more we control our spirit, the more we will be at peace.
Anger is the result of one’s lack of ability to control their spirit. The more we control our spirit, the more we will be at peace.
Those who are led by emotions tend to fall prey to anger. This anger can result from an emotional outburst or a long-term grip that slowly eats away at the individual. St. Augustine once said, “Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”
Whether actions done toward us were wrong or not, our response dictates our maturity in the faith.
Whether actions done toward us were wrong or not, our response dictates our maturity in the faith. It is by way of how we react that we reveal to others what truly harbors within. Anyone can put on a front. Anyone can smile and pretend to be friendly. However, if that person is going home and instantly critiquing others, criticizing them, and talking behind their back, the pool of anger is slowly beginning to rise. The true spirit of the person is being revealed.
Anger that occurs from what is either wrongfully done toward us or not is the revealment of what has been going on within for quite some time. It is how we respond and in what tone that reveals the true character of our inner man. As Viktor Frankl (Jewish-Austrian psychiatrist during WWII) once said, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
How we respond to the response we desire to give will reveal to others the inner character we possess. “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly” (Proverbs 14:29 ESV).
Words from those who are opinionated, constantly critiquing, never satisfied, put themselves first, do not listen, are unwilling to grow, are of the world, and continually look for controversy should possess little to no weight.
Those slow to anger are those who control their spirit. They realize that words from those who are opinionated, constantly critiquing, never satisfied, put themselves first, do not listen, are unwilling to grow, are of the world, and continually look for controversy should possess little to no weight. They disregard what is said because it comes from a place where one is unbalanced and not walking with the Lord. Due to this, the spirit of those attacked or wrongfully accused or slandered is not wavered.
If we can remain unwavered and unmoved by the petty opinions, slander, twisted stories, and wrong gossip about us, God shall move on our behalf.
Behind every man or woman of integrity is a group of individuals who know that particular individual's character, conduct, and condition. Greater still, God is our Confidence and sees what is wrongfully said toward us and about us. If we can remain unwavered and unmoved by the petty opinions, slander, twisted stories, and wrong gossip about us, God shall move on our behalf.
“So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”” (Hebrews 13:6 NKJV). “For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught” (Proverbs 3:26 NKJV). When we are still as the mountain and wait upon the Lord, He shall fight our battles. He shall reveal the injustices of man and what they speak of us. He will give us the strength to endure all persecution and remain at peace, knowing that so long as we are walking with Him, we have nothing to fear.
The weight of words are only as heavy as we allow them to influence our mental and emotional state.
The weight of words are only as heavy as we allow them to influence our mental and emotional state. Those who can easily disregard words from those whose opinions do not matter are those who are maturing and growing in the faith.
“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back” (Proverbs 29:11 ESV). We may desire to vent our frustration and anger, but if we can control our response, we shall leave a situation in peace. Rather than getting angry or frustrated, we will become strengthened in tranquility. Rather than arguing with those who are unwilling to listen and plot evil against us, we shall quietly hold back and refrain from speaking.
The masterful art of reducing anger is found in neglecting to respond to perverted speech about us or toward us, due to seeing the spirit of the person behind those words.
The masterful art of reducing anger is found in neglecting to respond to perverted speech about us or toward us, due to seeing the spirit of the person behind those words. For “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1 ESV).
Quietness or, if necessary, a soft answer in proper spirit does a great wound toward those who seek to anger us, deplete us, falsely accuse us, frustrate us, ridicule us, belittle us, judge us, and defame us.
Quietness or, if necessary, a soft answer in proper spirit does a great wound toward those who seek to anger us, deplete us, falsely accuse us, frustrate us, ridicule us, belittle us, judge us, and defame us. For when we love those who persecute us and we seek not to get even, but turn the other cheek, we will heap coals upon the heads of those who would otherwise seek to destroy us. This is why we must learn the ability to rule our spirit.
Most of us get angry when something is against us and not against God. When people do wrong toward us, we become enraged. However, when false prophets lead many to Hell, we remain silent.
The Lord Jesus never became angry without reason. He had a righteous, holy anger that was done in purity. Most of us get angry when something is against us and not against God. When people do wrong toward us, we become enraged. However, when false prophets lead many to Hell, we remain silent.
We don’t want to upset anyone or cause any controversy. “The Lord is Sovereign and He will take care of it” we say, while God has told us to evangelize, make Disciples of men (Matthew 28:19-20), turn brothers away from sin (James 5:19), and to stand firm in the faith (1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV).
We must be like Christ and have a holy anger for that which offends God and His Name, while remaining meek and lowly when others wrong us. This was the way of Christ in this life, and it is the way we must follow.
We must be like Christ and have a holy anger for that which offends God and His Name, while remaining meek and lowly when others wrong us. This was the way of Christ in this life, and it is the way we must follow.
It does not mean we allow others to trample over us, to do wrong to our family, and the like. We have a responsibility to stand up and protect our family as men. However, when wrong is directed toward us we must rule our spirit and not become enraged but give it to the Lord, for we are called to “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord” (Romans 12:17-19 NKJV).
We can have a holy anger, but our anger must never lead us to sin. We can be outraged at the church accepting sin, allowing false prophets to speak in the Name of God when they are not born again. We can have a righteous anger toward the multitudes turning ministry into a profession to boost their names rather than treating it as a passion to share Truth in love. We can be angry at these things, but our anger must not lead to sin. Instead, it must drive us to pray to God that His Spirit would move in a mighty way.
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26 ESV). We can have a holy anger, but our anger must never lead us to sin. We can be outraged at the church accepting sin, allowing false prophets to speak in the Name of God when they are not born again. We can have a righteous anger toward the multitudes turning ministry into a profession to boost their names rather than treating it as a passion to share Truth in love. We can be angry at these things, but our anger must not lead to sin. Instead, it must drive us to pray to God that His Spirit would move in a mighty way.
Righteous anger must always be a means to lead us to pray to God for His Spirit to move, never for us to act out in a burst of temporal emotion that is unwarranted and will ultimately cause more damage than good.
“For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20 ESV). Righteous anger must always be a means to lead us to pray to God for His Spirit to move, never for us to act out in a burst of temporal emotion that is unwarranted and will ultimately cause more damage than good.
Therefore, let us “Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil” (Psalm 37:8 ESV), for “A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated” (Proverbs 14:17 ESV). Instead, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31 ESV). Again, we “must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth” (Colossians 3:8 ESV).
May God give us wisdom to know that “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32 ESV). May God give us the power to “be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19 ESV).
Let us cease from hating anyone or allowing prolonged anger to rule us and destroy us. Instead, may we meditate on God, Who is Love.
Let us cease from hating anyone or allowing prolonged anger to rule us and destroy us. Instead, may we meditate on God, Who is Love, for He will continually remind us that true “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV).
May the Holy Spirit forever rule our spirit, keeping us from the way of the fool and an unfulfilled life. May God make us wise and gentle, loving all those made in His image.
PRAYER
God in Heaven, vengeance is Yours and You will repay. God, we know that You are a God of Justice, but also a God of Mercy. We know that You desire mercy over sacrifice. We know that You are willing to fill those of a contrite and lowly spirit with Your Holy Spirit. We know, O God, that You are more willing to give Your grace and mercy than we are willing to receive it. God, forgive us of our sins. Forgive us of any bitterness, anger, resentment, slander, and strife we have caused to ourselves and those around us. Forgive us, Lord, of our unwillingness to give what is difficult over to You. God, purify us within and fill us with a spirit of gentleness and love. May we desire to live peaceably, in so far as we are able, before all men. May we be gracious and kind to others, remembering how much You have forgiven us. God, we do not deserve to know You. We do not deserve to be saved by Christ’s atoning sacrifice and have Your Spirit living inside us. For those who don’t know You, Lord, we pray that they would come to know You. May our enemies become our brothers by believing in Christ and repenting of their sins. Save those we dislike and hate in the flesh. Rule our spirit, O Holy Spirit, that our flesh may be overridden by Thee. May we love all people. May we see everyone as a soul headed to Heaven or Hell. O God, if You have saved and forgiven us, You desire to do the same for all men. Holy Spirit, touch the souls of men and may revival start within us and spread throughout the land. We pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Lance VanTine
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