Dealing to Anger
The Commanding Officer of King David’s army was his nephew, Joab. Joab thought nothing of helping his uncle murder the husband of Bathsheba. He put Uriah in the thick of battle and withdrew from him. Joab’s battle report to David included news of men being killed when fighting too close to the enemy’s wall. David would be furious—But, no matter, Joab knew what David wanted to hear. Joab was right, David’s anger rose when hearing about Joab’s inexcusable military mistake, but when followed by the news of Uriah’s death, his wrath, as predicted, was automatically cancelled out.Such was the state of David’s heart. Such is the fickle nature of human emotions.Anger is not as much suppressed as it is tucked away. Our ‘righteous’ wrath is conveniently stowed in easily accessible recesses of our mind. Not to be left to itself, it is preened and pampered, ready to be displayed in all its glory at the appropriate moment. Anger is a base thing on the best of days. Within us, it is easily ‘self-excused’ as normal and natural, but condemned as petty and mean when used against us.Dealing with anger is best done with our hand in the air. Admitting to the good possibility that unrelated thoughts, feelings, and emotions are ‘more-than-likely’ to be present and ready to make everything worse, is a good start. James just dumps all your excuses for anger into having “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart,” and bluntly adds, “do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth” (Jm.3:14). Anger thrives in this environment and results in “disorder and every evil thing” (Jm.3:16).Anger must be crowd out. Instead, The fruit of Wisdom must thrive in its place: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (Jm.3:17-18).John StaigerIf you have been blessed by this message: Like, Comment or Share.(302)
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