Anger is something that many people find very difficult to conquer. Anger is an acid that can do more damage to the vessel than the person on whom it is poured! Here are some thoughts on conquering anger.

1 – Recognising sinless anger

Anger can sometimes be looked on as a positive and good thing. The best example of this is Jesus. You don’t have to vent your anger on people. See Matthew 5:21. Anger can be dangerous. See Galatians 5:20; Proverbs 29:11; James 1:19-20 and Psalm 37:8. You don’t help by venting anger in every situation. How can you be angry without sin?

Jesus expressed anger. See John 2:14-15. Jesus was angry at the extortion going on. They took money from the people under false pretences in collusion with the priests. They had also set up shop in the Gentile court of the Temple. These merchants had filled up the court and the Gentiles had nowhere to worship. Jesus’ anger was always at the abuses and wrongdoings. See Mark 3:5. Jesus was angry because they did not understand God’s Word and had no compassion.

2 – Renouncing sinful anger

There are things we can do against the giant of sinful anger.

• Don’t nurse your anger (vs. 26) – You should never be angry for more than 24 hours. We can enjoy anger. You make up speeches in your mind! It is best not to remember. Let it go! Go to bed! Don’t let it rot your soul. See Hebrews 12:15. It leads to bitterness. Settle all accounts before the sun falls. Don’t sleep until it is settled.
• Don’t rehearse your anger. If you do it becomes bigger and bigger. Don’t feed it!
• Don’t converse about your anger (vs. 29) – Don’t let your mouth get out of control. Watch out for “cutting” remarks. Sarcasm can be dangerous. We are to use remarks that build people up – not cut down. See Proverbs 15:1.
• Don’t hang out with angry people (See Proverbs 22:24-25) – They can pass their habits onto you. They can also fly off in anger at you.
• Don’t disperse your anger. (vs. 31) – We are not to let out our anger every time we feel it. See Proverbs 19:11. Sinful anger is like a baby’s tantrum. It can happen to young and old!
• Do reverse your anger – You can do this with tenderness and forgiveness. See Romans 12:20. It happens when we do good on those who did evil against us. We shame them! We reverse what has been done to us. It is not any easy thing to do. Release your anger by reversing it! The anger drains away. Don’t hang onto the anger. Set yourself free! Don’t be angry for too long!

Categories: Ephesians