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God has implanted emotions into the human nature.  When provoked, it is natural for us to respond in anger.  

On many occasions, the Lord Jesus was angry with the religious leaders of His time.  In anger, He cleansed the Temple precinct, driving out those who “sold and bought” including the money changers (Matt. 21: 12-13; Jn. 2: 14-15).  But unlike our Lord’s righteous indignation, our anger often stems from a sinful cause; we react in a negative way which leads to sin.  How do we keep our anger in check so that we do not sin against the Lord?   

1.  Know the dangers of uncontrolled anger

a.  An angry person “ dealeth foolishly … and … is hated”
He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated (Prov. 14: 17)

Literally translated, the word “angry” in the original has the idea of “short of nostrils.”  When a man is angry, his nose is contracted, and drawn up towards his eyes.  This reflects the ugliness of such a character.  Unrestrained passion causes a person to speak and to act foolishly, thus exposing himself to contempt. When the heat is over, he cannot but be ashamed of his folly. 

An angry person, whose heart is full of bitter resentment, often watches for an opportunity for revenge.  He schemes secretly how to do ill to his neighbour, as Cain did to Abel.  Such a spiteful man is to be pitied because he makes himself odious to others.

b. An angry person “exalteth folly”
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly (Prov. 14:29) 

One who acts rashly without thinking of the consequences, speaks and acts foolishly, even to the extent of being violent.  Interestingly, “hasty of spirit” carries the meaning, “short of spirit.” This describes one who is easily agitated, so as to be literally “short of breath.” 

“He that is hasty of spirit, whose heart is tinder to every spark of provocation, that is all fire and tow, as we say, he thinks hereby to magnify himself and make those about stand in awe of him, whereas really he exalts his own folly; he makes it known, as that which is lifted up is visible to all, and he submits himself to it as to the government of one that is exalted” – Albert Barnes.

c. An angry person” stirreth up  strife” and “aboundeth in transgression”
An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression (Prov. 29: 22) 

See here the grievous mischief that flows from a furious disposition.  It causes men to provoke one another.  One who stirs up strife, troubles his family and his neighbours. 

He is “by his passion easily transported into grievous and manifold sins against God, and others, and himself, as swearing, and cursing, and violence, yea, sometimes even to murder” – Matthew Poole.

d. An angry person torments himself
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh  (Prov.  11: 17 )

Anger, if uncontrolled, can lead to disastrous consequences that will affect not only others, but also ourselves.   An angry person is controlled by the words and actions of others.   Haman was so disturbed by Mordecai’s refusal to bow before him that it “ate him up.”  Even as he was boasting of his achievements and honours to his wife and family, the thought of Mordecai snubbing him tormented him and marred his comforts : “Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate” (Est. 5: 13). 

“In the early days of television, there was a comedy show that got a lot of laughs.  On one program, one of the characters appeared in a heavy coat on a hot summer day.  He explained to his partner that he was hiding two sticks of dynamite under it.  He was going to fix a fellow who had the annoying habit of jabbing him on the chest whenever they talked.  He said, “When he thumps me this time, I’m going to blast his finger off.   But the man was overlooking what he would do to himself” – Daily Bread. (… to be continued)