Are you angry at someone? Is there someone that you are holding a grudge against? Is there someone that has made your blood boil? Is there someone that you've pushed over the boiling point?
Now, there is nothing wrong with anger in and of itself. Anger is love in motion. We get angry when what we love is threatened. If someone came and attacked your friend you would not be wrong to get angry and then do something about it. If you read the news and get angry about injustice and misuse of power there is nothing necessarily wrong about that. However, most of my anger and your anger is selfish. Most of what makes us angry is when our pride is threatened.
"In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Ephesians 4:26-27
If you are angry with someone you need to make it right. If you are causing someone to be angry at you, then you have to make it right. The Apostle Paul tells us that anger is something to be dealt with now. You can be angry and not sin but most of the time anger is a source of sin. Uncontrolled or un-dealt with anger gives the devil a foothold. Satan loves to use our anger, even righteous anger at times, to tempt us to sin. Deal with anger quickly. Do as much as you can to not go to bed angry.
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of Hell.
Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:21-24
In Matthew chapter 5 Jesus ratchets up the seriousness of anger and unforgiveness. He says that anger against a person is the same as murder. He says even if we call someone an fool or 'raca', which means blockhead, they are committing a serious sin. He says sinful anger, like all sin, interferes with our ability to worship God.
Jesus says if you have something causing anger between you and another to set it right immediately. Jesus says that if someone were bringing a sacrifice to the temple in Jerusalem and then remembers a relationship that is out of whack that they should leave the sacrifice for later and take care of the relationship immediately. This is radical. Imagine someone from Jesus' hometown of Nazareth doing this. According to Google Maps it would take someone 31 hours to walk from Jerusalem to Nazareth and that's without stopping. Jesus tells those listening that ridding anger from a relationship is worth doing that. What have you done to make a relationship right?
Don't let the sun go down on your anger. Take anger against someone very seriously because Jesus does. Fight against anger because Paul says the devil uses anger against us. Anger is not a little issue, it is a big issue. With whom do you have a beef? Have you done your part to fix it? Obviously you can't force them to not be mad at you, but have you given it a try? Pastor Scott said on Sunday that no one can make you angry but you. Have you given up on your anger? My dad says holding a grudge with someone is like having a jail on a U-Haul trailer and taking it with you everywhere. Have you unhitched the jail cell?
Do this. Do this as soon as possible. Anger and unforgiveness are huge problems. Take the mad out of March Madness today.
* "Anger is love in motion." is a quote I misattributed to Tim Keller but upon further investigation I believe I took that from Jonathan Parnell
No comments:
Post a Comment