Anger

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. Ephesians 4:26

Did you ever read the ‘Mr Men’ stories by Roger Hargreaves to your children? They all had a characteristic which made it easy to use as a moral which could be applied. Among all the little men was Mr Angry, and he got angry at just about everything, everyone, all the time, to the point it became ridiculous. By the end of the story you had lost any sympathy you might have had for the poor wee man. He overplayed his flaw to the point of losing his friends, even his closest pals! It seems some adults were never introduced to this Mr Men character and any lessons that might have been learned are lost. But he does have a (not so) secret following!

The world is a very angry place, or to be more accurate, the world has too many angry people. Have you watched the news on TV, or caught a bulletin on the radio? It can’t have escaped your attention that we live among a very angry people. Did you watch the anger displayed at the US Republican and Democratic Conventions? After recent shootings in the USA, the streets are filled with angries. It happens every time people are mown down unnecessary, and it does not matter their colour. Closer to home, the ‘gentler politics’ promised melts away quickly when tested by tough times, or a leadership battle, or sport, or a referendum held in the UK and in Scotland. Division makes people angry, and feeling that you don’t count makes these faceless people very angry indeed.

Who or what gets you angry? I suggest anger mainly rises inside with those who are closest to you. Your family, your government, your environment, your team, and yes even your spouse. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t get your dander up (as my wise Dad used to say). Passion makes for heightened emotions, feelings, and that includes anger. It is significant that the apostle doesn’t say we shouldn’t get angry. We know that Jesus was angry enough to clear out the Temple Courts of money changers and traders. When we fall prey to anger, and let’s face it, we all get angry, there are a couple of golden rules. The first one is not to allow your anger lead to sin. That could include the sin of exaggeration to make a point, impatience, arrogance, belittling someone, or shouting them down. These are sins to be avoided, so when you are angry ‘don’t give the devil a foothold’ as the apostle continues in verse 27.

The bit that is hardest, especially with family, and maybe your spouse whom you might love and get angry with in equal measure, is not ending the day holding on to your anger. None of it. Zilch, nada, nil! There is an old hit song which has the words, “The best part of breaking up, is when you’re making up”. Not quite the same, but you get my drift. How good is that feeling when you say sorry, and are forgiven? It’s like that with our Heavenly Father too. We get angry with Him and blame Him for just about everything, but when we say sorry and mean it, there is no better feeling this side of heaven than His forgiveness. Trust me! So, take care with your anger on earth, and be more than careful to say sorry to God for the anger you have felt towards Him, and receive His forgiveness which leads to salvation and confirms His presence. Now that’s a sure way to achieve heaven on earth, before we get there.