TO BE OR NOT TO BE ANGRY

Have you ever felt a surge of anger rise up within you when some driver cuts you off or darts between your car and the one in front of you, forcing you to slam on your brakes? Have you ever wanted to give others a piece of your mind for the way they treated you? Have there been times when life has been so difficult and empty that you feel like lashing out at whoever comes by?

We have seen the violent results of such anger on the newscasts, in the schools, in our communities and maybe even in our family. We usually become angry when we are not appreciated, when we are hurt in some way, when others are honored ahead of us or if someone gets something we wanted. In these cases anger is likely to make things worse instead of better. They are based on self-centeredness. They are motivated by a “me first” mindset.

There is a place for anger when a good cause is at stake. Anger can become channeled energy for correcting wrongs. Ephesians 4:26 says, “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Anger rising out of selfishness will damage and destroy ourselves and others around us. It’s not a sin to get angry when you get angry at sin.

But how can we ever become like that? It’s only when we experience the grace of God who forgives us, instead of condemning us, that we can also extend grace to others.

Ephesians 2:7-9 tells us about …the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.

Don’t let the sun, or your attitude, go down in anger.

Henry Wiebe