The Word This Week – A WISE MAN KEEPS HIMSELF UNDER CONTROL

27 Jan 2014 by Rev Dr Jai Kumar –

 

Eph. 4:26

 “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your warth,”  

 

NATURE OF GOD

 

 

God was provoked to anger many times in the Bible by the rebellious hearts of the people and their inclination to sin. Again and again people’s sin provoked God to anger in the Old Testament.

Jesus was also provoked to anger by the stubborn hearts of the Pharisees.  Jesus drove the moneylenders out of the temple with a whip because they were defiling his Father’s house.

Moses was also angry about the golden calf incident in the wilderness.

Paul was angry about the false teaching in the church.

God is a God of anger as well as a God of love and compassion.

 

ANGER CAN BE MANAGED

 

 

Experts say anger is a healthy normal emotional condition of the human body. These emotions are part of us because they are part of God, and we are made in God’s image. However, despite what the experts say, many lives have been hijacked and destroyed because of explosive temper and aggressive anger! Emotions can be overwhelmingly powerful and beyond control sometimes in some people.

I suppose it’s perfectly healthy and normal to feel angry when we are faced with certain situations especially when unfairness and mistreatment is involved.  I guess it’s not how we feel during such times that create the problem, but rather it’s how we handle the temper that makes a difference. Anger is something we can’t avoid, but it’s something we can learn to manage and control.

 

YOU HAVE A CHOICE

 

 

Although you may not be in control of your circumstances outside of you, you are in control of the expression of your anger which is inside you. It is within your control to express your anger within a reasonable boundary, without being verbally or physically abusive. Even if someone is pushing your buttons, the fact of the matter is you have a choice as to how to respond.

 

Prov.25:28  

“If you cannot control your anger, you are as helpless as a city without walls, open to attack.”

 

WHEN ANGER CONTROLS, SATAN WILL RIDE ON YOU

 

 

Anger becomes a problem when the spirit of anger is permitted to ride on you like a horse driven by somebody.  But the question is: How do you manage your anger?  You know what? Anger is not a sin; but not managing it is!  The Bible says:

 

Ecc 7:9

“Anger resides in the lap of fools”

Proverbs 29:22,

“A hot tempered man starts fights and gets into all kinds of trouble.” (LB)

 

With everything said and done, on the contrary perhaps we could view the feeling of anger from a more reasonable and simple human perspective.  I think it’s justifiable to say, often when we get mad at someone, it’s because we obviously care for that person!  Or rather, we are concerned for that situation!

 

A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY OF EXPRESSION

 

 

But you know what? We fail to understand something crucial sometimes. We fail to understand how to express our feelings and channel them in more constructive ways that would bring better results, instead of yelling and being explosive at someone.

We need men who know how to get angry at the right time for the right reasons in the right way. Sometimes, people can be frustrating and the problems we face can be annoying and unreasonable. However, Godly leaders have the wisdom to remain calm under pressure and provocation not because they are timid but because they are wise.

 

Proverbs 14:16

A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless

 

ANGRY PEOPLE MISS OUT ON GOD’S BLESSINGS

 

 

You are ignorant if you think that true power comes from being loud in volume, dominating, pressuring, manupulating and aggressively bullying others. People may be afraid of you superficially but they won’t respect you behind your back. Have you ever noticed angry people can’t control themselves or handle opposing viewpoints or counseling? But Paul is warning us against putting a “hot-head” in a position of spiritual leadership.  

 

Proverbs 12:18

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing

 

Not only does anger harm you, it’s also one of satan’s strategies for getting you out of the will of God. That’s why Paul said be angry but do not sin.

“But I have a reason to be angry,” you say!  So did Joseph, yet he fed those who imprisoned him! And blessed those who betrayed him! In so doing he prospered and was set free from his anger! Your prosperity! Your blessing! Your miracle, your favor and well-being rest within your power to walk in God’s will: That’s His standard that you need to maintain if you want to see results.

 

‘SHUT UP!‘

 

         

 

It’s one thing to be angry; it’s another to sound off at the wrong time. Remember, “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterword’s.” (Prov. 29:11) Proverbs says; Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. Sometimes we need to “shut up” and keep quiet when things are out of control.

However, anger is normal, and it will come out regardless of how hard you try to suppress it. Anger management is all about becoming aware of your underlying feelings and needs and developing healthier ways to manage upset emotions. I am not advocating “suppression of anger,” the goal is to express it in a more constructive way that will avoid damage and harm to anybody around.

 

UNCONTROLLABLE EMOTIONS CAN CRIPPLE YOU

 

 

Medical science has proven through intensive research beyond reasonable doubt, chronic anger makes you more susceptible to heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, a weakened immune system, insomnia, and high blood pressure including psychotic and mental health problems etc.

Besides, chronic anger burns you out quickly with high metabolism, consumes huge amounts of mental energy and clouds your thinking, making it harder to concentrate. In order to get your needs met and express your anger in appropriate ways, you need to be in touch with what you are really feeling.

 

Are you truly angry? Or is your anger masking other feelings such as embarrassment, insecurity, hurt, shame, or vulnerability?

Do you believe that your way is always right and get angry when others disagree?

Do you have a strong need to be in control or a fragile ego, that you often interpret other perspectives as a challenge to your authority, rather than simply a different way of looking at things?

You know what? We get angry when a current event brings up an old unresolved situation of the past that has long been buried in us.

 

DO A POSTMORTEM

 

 

By the way when was the last time you lost your cool? What provoked you to anger? Why were you so angry? And what did you do about it? How did you express your anger? These are serious questions that you need to address and not just sweep it away! If you cannot control your anger it’s obvious that you have a real problem!

The apostle James says everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (James 1:19)  Often we see communication breaks down and relationships are torn apart with hurts and pain in view of anger and rage and we regret and most of the time the damage is beyond repair.

 

WE THINK WE CAN STEER OUR BOAT ON OUR OWN

 

 

You know what? We have often failed miserably because we try to fix and overcome a lot of our problems and defects with our own strength. The secret is to let go and let God take over.

 

John12:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.

 

Out of what you let go and let God take over your situation, God will birth a miracle, something new! Something entirely different! Which will not be identical to what you gave Him.

 

MOST OF US KEEP FAILING IN LIFE BECAUSE WE KEEP DRAWING ON OUR OWN STRENGTH INSTEAD OF TURNING OUR FOCUS ON GOD AND DRAWING FROM HIM.

 

Ephesians 4:31-32

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Love is patient, love is kind. ……. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, ………”.

 

 

Note: Rev Dr Jai Kumar is an ordained & licensed minister of Covenant Ministries International N.J. USA. He is also the representative of Faith International Bible School for Malaysia & Singapore. He is the founder and senior pastor of Full Gospel Outreach Ministry KL, a member of ECCM, Spiritual Adviser & overseer of Full Gospel Christian Church KL. Co-founder and adviser of Kingdom Christian Fellowship, Subang Jaya, he is also the author of a book entitled, ‘God’s Time Clock.’

 

 

 

References for pictures

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