Be Self-Control In Your Anger

Paul says that "the fruit of the Spirit is...self-control" (Galatians 5:23). What do we normally put in the category of things to gain self-control over. Lust, food, and even drinks. Anger is hardly any one's list of what they to be better in self-control. The Bible has a lot to say about anger, especially the book of Proverbs:

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly (Proverbs 14:29)

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11)

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention (Proverbs 15:18)

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare (Proverbs 23:24-25)

James even tells us that "the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:20). So anger is an issue that each one of us deal with. Some more extreme than others. Jesus was angry too, but it was a righteous anger. Our anger at times are not righteous, in fact, they are selfish.

Should we be angry if our kids are not going at a fast pace so we can get to our destination? Should we be angry at the computer when something does not work the way its suppose to? Should we be angry when your favorite restaurant is out of your favorite food because you have been boasting how good it is?

Truth is we can do some stupid stuff when we are angry. We act like a two-year-old who did not get that toy he/she asked for and starts lying on the floor screaming. Working in retail, I have seen people acting like that at times. We look like the guy in the picture with steam coming out of both ears.

Sometimes our anger is a direct result of our impatience. We can be impatient people at times in our fast food society. If the drive-thru line takes longer than it should, we get mad. When you go to Wal-Mart that had 30 check-out lanes and only 5 are open (some of you know what I am talking about).

The gospel reminds us that God is patient with us even when we are not patient with others or ourselves. Remember that anger is not a sin, but how we use it can be a sin. Psalm 4:4 and Ephesians 4:26 says, "In your anger, do not sin." Remember Jesus got angry and He lives a perfect life. The Fruit of the Spirit of God working in our lives is self-control. We can ask the Holy Spirit to help us in our times of anger. One thing that has helped me is tell God in prayer how ticked off you are at the person you are angry with or the situation you are dealing with.

What happens if you do lose it: Ask God to forgive you, repent (even if it is the 100th time you have lost it), and, if you lost your temper at someone, asked that person to forgive you. Parents, if you got angry at your kids (I mean anger for no reason) tell them you were wrong.

Anger is something all of us have to deal with. This is where we need to go beyond ourselves and ask the Holy Spirit for help.