Some Thoughts On Anger

Anger. But not the righteous kind. A friend mentioned to me today that she was recently told by an acquaintance that she needs to control her anger. As my friend explained it, it was a situation that could provoke anger in many people. But the anger helped no one.

As I've thought about this through the day, though, I think it may have helped my friend to have had someone she doesn't know well to confront her about her anger. I think she was surprised that the gal wasn't just absorbing the anger coming her way. It was a wake up call to my friend on how others view her. I don't think she liked the picture she saw.

Where does anger come from? Why does it rise to the top so quickly?

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

Matthew 15:18

Anger comes out of the mouth because it's in the heart.  It lodges in the heart and grows deep, ugly roots. It defiles.

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

Ecclesiastes 7:9

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, 

but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Proverbs 14:29

Anger is the fruit of a fool. It's a fruit from its root. It often grows from fear. What or who do we fear? What or who do we fear that we can't control? What are we not getting that we think anger will get us? What are we willing to sin to get? Why are we thinking so much about ourselves? What or who should we be thinking about instead? Is our anger moving the kingdom of God forward? Our answers reveal our heart.

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

James 4:19-20

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