Overcoming Anger

When a man's temper gets the best of him, it reveals the worst of him.

Ephesians 4:25-32

No one could measure the harm that is done in our world by anger. Many an innocent child or faithful mate has suffered unreasonable at the hands of one who has a "short fuse." The Christian who is led by the Holy Spirit, however, will learn to keep his temper under control. He'll refuse to let anger explode into awful words or terrible deeds that he'll soon regret.

This is not to say that all anger is sin. Paul told the Ephesians, "Be ye angry, and not sin" (4:26). Moses was filled with indignation when he came down from Mount Sinai and found the people of Israel worshipping a golden calf. Jesus Christ was righteously angry when He walked resolutely through the temple and rebuked the money changers. Anger can be godly and constructive if it is under the Spirit's control. But the anger that builds up in most of us is ungodly and destructive, and it often causes us to lose our temper. At that point we are out of control, and what we say and od is dishonoring to Christ. There is no way we can justify our actions. A lady once came to Billy Sunday and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts. "There's nothing wrong with losing my temper," she said, "I blow up, and then it's all over." "So does a shotgun," Sunday replied, "and look at the damage it leaves behind!"

Perhaps you have a reputation for getting angry quickly. Maybe, you're even a little proud of it. Don't be. Consider the harm your're doing to those you love the most, and the dishonor you're bringing to Christ. Decide right now, with the help of God, to begin overcoming anger. 

                                      Lost your temper, did you say?
                                     Truth says, state it in this way;
                                     "When I count the tragic cost,
                                     Would to God it had been lost!"