“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,
for anger lodges in the heart of fools.”
– Ecclesiastes 7:9
Anger is one of the more insidious indulgences among Christians today. Often we will rationalize letting our temper fly by emphasizing that we were right about whatever it is we were angry about. In excusing away anger, we miss the repeated and emphatic teaching of the Bible! In the hands of sinful humans, anger generally leads us into sin.
Even when we start out right on the issue, anger generally means we’ll wind up wrong in the end. Some will point out that Jesus got angry. This is true. But we aren’t Jesus. He never sinned. Unlike Jesus, we can seldom become angry without it ending in sin. As you grow in Christ, the Holy Spirit should be making you more peaceful, patient, gentle, and self-controlled. Your union with Christ should empower you to remain firm about the truth without becoming angry.
Take time to consider yourself honestly. Are you a person who makes peace or someone who tends to get angry easily? If the latter, take the commands of Scripture seriously! Pray for God to transform your spirit so that you won’t be quick to become angry. When you find that you have become angry, repent of that. Call a time out on yourself and go to the Lord in sincere confession and repentance.
Devote yourself to prayer and the study of God’s Word so that you can take on God’s eternal perspective in every situation and fully trust in Him. This helps you to address even the most serious of issues with firmness but without anger.