So much good reading today after all the misery of the past few days what with all the turmoil and coups and such.
So many different passages to pick from to focus on but I'd like to focus on one simple, yet difficult, instruction....
Scripture
In your anger do not sin. Psalm 4:4a
This verse is echoed in the NT as well.
"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27.
Observation
The emotion of anger is not necessarily a sin, but we need to be careful not to allow our response or reaction to anger to be expressed in a sinful manner.
Application
Anger itself is not necessarily sinful (though if we have a quick temper it is a good idea to figure out if there are underlying issues that need to be resolved, and to work at improving that).
But it is far easier said than done to not sin in our anger.
Anger is such a powerful emotion. Anger can often be a result of being hurt by someone else, in which case our human tendency is to strike back and hurt the offender even more. We can strike back physically or emotionally/verbally. Sometimes we think that as long as we're not striking back physically that we're doing ok. But we all know that the saying "stick and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me" is baloney. Words hurt. Deeply.
The tongue is hard to tame and it's effects are long lasting. There are numerous verses in the Bible dealing with this.....
I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin. Psalm 39:1a
They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows. Psalm 64:3
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. Proverbs 10:19
A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. Proverbs 11:12
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. Proverbs 21:23
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:5-12
Righteous anger can actually be beneficial, if we harness it in the right direction - like Jesus did when He cleared out the temple which was being used as a market instead of the holy place that it was (John 2-12).So, let us be mindful not to sin in our anger and to harness our righteous anger appropriately to produce godly change.
Prayer
Lord, I know that I am quick to anger and often quick to retaliate hurt with hurt. Help me to guard my tongue and not to sin in my anger.
Thank you for the emotion of anger that rises in us when we bear witness to wrongdoing. Help us to harness that righteous anger to produce the change that You would desire. Help us to keep Your glory in mind and not our own agenda.
Amen.
Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 12-17, Psalm 19-21
1 comment:
Thanks, Tammy! We talked about this at my Bible study group last week. It's so easy to say things we later wish we could take back. Better to keep our mouths shut and respond when the "heat of the moment" has passed. Much easier said than done, for sure.
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