ANGER

“In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down, while you are still angry.”

-Ephesians 4:26

Many years ago, the Apostle Paul offered sound advice to Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor. He counseled, “In your anger, do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (Ephesians 4:26). The J.B. Phillips translation puts it like this, “If you are angry be sure it is not out of wounded pride and bad temper. Never go to bed angry – do not give the devil that sort of foothold.”

In his book, None of These Diseases, Dr. S.I. McMillen tells of a little lady, well into her eighties, who came in frequently to have her blood pressure checked. It usually hovered around 200, but one day it soared to 230. Inwardly, Dr.McMillen was alarmed, but rather calmly he said, “Your blood pressure is up today.” With a smile, the little lady answered, “I can easily account for that. I just had an argument with another patient in your waiting room.” Dr.McMillen says, “Think of it: That cultured intelligent woman could well have blown a cerebral fuse and suffered a fatal stroke, simply because she wanted to get even verbally with a man for his provocative chatter…”

Instead of letting anger and malice breed hatred and sin, Paul says that love can be a catalyst that will remove misplaced and unjustified anger. He said, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31, 32).

If you have an unwieldy temper, admit it. Do not hesitate to ask God’s help in overcoming your temper. As you begin each day say, “Lord, go with me today and help me do and say the things that reflect Your presence in my life.” You can find God’s power to make your life worth living.