Anger is a strong feeling of displeasure that we experience when we feel we have been mistreated or injured in some way. Although Christians are exhorted to rejoice in the Lord always, there are times we don’t feel like rejoicing. There are times when anger is aroused by a personal offense. The injustices of this sinful world will awaken indignation in the heart of any righteous person. It is not a sin for a Christian to be angry. God becomes angry, and we are made in His image. However, there is a danger to this strong emotion.
“Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil” (Eph. 4:26-27). This passage tells us it is all right to be angry, but it is not all right to resolve this anger any way we choose. Kept in context, we must “put off” our old way of doing things and put on “true righteousness and holiness” (vs. 22-24). We can’t allow our anger to excuse sinful reactions on our part.
1. We Can’t Sin. Anger is a strong emotion. There is great danger of sinning when strong emotions are aroused. In the heat of the moment, we can fail to check our words and actions and respond in an ungodly way.
When angered, some Christians use foul language and become violent and disrespectful. Others begin to pout and gossip. Then they try to justify this behavior by saying, “That’s just the way I am,” or “You don’t understand what they did to me.” What we do understand is that being sinned against never gives us the right to sin in return.
There are godly ways to resolve our anger. Jesus tells us we are to go and talk to the brother who has sinned against us (Matt. 18:15-17). If a matter can’t be resolved by talking it through, we must cast our cares on the Lord and then let it go (1 Pet. 5:7; Rom. 12:18).
2. We Can’t Let the Sun Go Down on Our Anger. We must resolve it before it gets the best of us. Anger that is kept alive in our heart soon degenerates into bitterness and malice. The person whose heart is bitter towards another will destroy their own inner joy and peace. The Hebrew writer warned against developing a “root of bitterness” that will spring up and cause trouble (Heb. 12:15). This hatred will eventually work its way out in our words or actions against others. Allowed to take up residence in our heart, unresolved anger will destroy our lives and our souls.
3. We Can’t Give Place to the Devil. As with any strong emotion, anger gives our adversary open access to our heart. This is the warning God gave Cain when he was angry with his brother Abel. “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Gen. 4:7, NASB). When we open the door to anger, the devil can more easily entice us with pride, envy, and vengeance.
Afterwards, when we calm down, we learn that we didn’t “master” our anger. It mastered us. We are left to feel the shame and sorrow over the way we responded. What happened? We opened the cockpit of our heart and allowed the devil to take over the controls.
Conclusion: Anger is a strong emotion. The Bible warns us about the danger of such emotions. We must always maintain control over our thoughts, words, actions, and reactions.