Yes I'm Angry... Do You have a Problem with That?

Being a book on wisdom it is not surprising that Proverbs has quite a bit to say about anger.  Nor is it surprising that a book written to be read by ordinary people has a lot to say about anger.  We know anger all to well.  If we look around and listen to others and to ourselves it becomes obvious that anger is everywhere.  Read the papers and listen to the news - anger is a rampant. Listen to people talk in the lunch room, watch how people treat one another you will find that anger is often the driving force.  We live in a selfish world consequently we live in an angry world.  Because we live in an angry world we live in a violent world.  See what Proverbs says about anger, read these verses slowly really think about what they are saying to us. 

• Proverbs 14:17  A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
• Proverbs 14:29  Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
• Proverbs 15:1  A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
• Proverbs 15:18  A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

• Proverbs 29:22  A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.
• Proverbs 30:33  For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.

• Proverbs 16:32  Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
• Proverbs 19:11  Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

• Proverbs 22:24  Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,

It is true there is a righteous anger, but that anger is a selfless anger.  It is anger due to man’s blaspheming God and his utter disrespect and contempt for the things of God.   Jesus was angry but never because of the way people treated him.  When Jesus cleansed the temple he was angry because they had turned His Father’s house of prayer into a den of thieves.  Matthew 21:12-13

Remember people do not make us angry.  People simply draw out the anger that is in us.  

If any of us are wondering if we have an anger problem we need to ask ourselves this question.  Are we surrounded by strife?   If our relationships are battle grounds, if we are constantly wounding people with our harsh words and outbursts, we  have a problem.  We don’t need medication or lengthy counseling sessions.  

We need to avoid being with angry people, choose your friends wisely. 

We need to practice good sense.  

We need to learn to act not just react to people.    Romans 12:17-18

We need to learn self-control.

We need to die to self daily. 

But ultimately and most importantly to do these things  We need to walk in the Spirit and we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.  Galatians 5:16     Galatians 6:19-20

"Anger blows out the lamp of the mind. It’s a child’s reaction to an adult situation."

Author Unknown

"Do not say, “I cannot help having a bad temper." Friend, you must help it. Pray to God to help you overcome it at once, for either you must kill it, or it will kill you..."  C.H. Spurgeon