Dealing With Anger

From My Notes by Pastor Ron Campbell

The Bible doesn’t tell us that we shouldn’t feel angry, but it points out that it is important to handle our anger properly. If vented thoughtlessly, anger can hurt others and destroy relationships. If bottled up inside, it can cause us to become bitter and destroy us from within.  We need to deal with our anger immediately in a way that builds relationships rather than destroys them. If we nurture our anger, we will give the devil an opportunity to divide us.

Only God is able to help us substitute hatred with love. Jesus gave us the perfect example of one who returned love for hate. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit are we able to return blessings for curses. With the power of God, we are able to return good for evil.

Are you angry with someone right now?

What can you do to resolve your differences? Don’t let the day end before you begin to work on mending your relationship.

There are times we need to understand the righteous causes of anger. Anger may be caused by injustice as when Jesus saw how the moneychangers were turning the temple into a house for profiteers.  In other words, there are times when we should be righteously indignant, but we cannot let anger become a regular part of our thought process or it will destroy us from within.

We can control our attitudes. It is not what goes into a person that defiles them, but what comes out of a man’s heart. It is not what happens to us that is responsible for our anger, but we are responsible for our reactions.

In the book of Ephesians (4:29-31), Paul warns us against using unwholesome language, improper use of anger, slander, and bad attitudes toward others. As an alternative, we should be forgiving, just as God has forgiven us.

Act in love toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, just as God acted in love by sending his Son to die for your sins.  God forgives us, not because we forgive others, but solely because of his great mercy. As we come to understand his mercy, however, we will want to be like him. Having received forgiveness, we will pass it on to others.

Remember…   Most people are starved for a little kindness, so be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another. Even as God in Christ has forgiven us.