09 Nov 2013
Thoughts#3007
Anger – why
you get angry and how to avoid being angry.
You should
first listen before speaking or becoming angry. Anger is a result when there is
a conflict or a difference of opinion. We must learn of the virtues of listening
before speaking for several reasons (see Proverbs 10:19, 10:32, 12:18, 13:3,
15:31-32). We get angry easily primarily because when you are speaking you are
not listening, not only to other people but also not to the Lord.
Being angry
may not necessarily be wrong. There are several instances when Jesus became
angry (at the money lenders in the temple, for example - Matthew 21:12-13) as
did Paul (at fortune telling by the slave girl - Acts 16:16-18). There are
sometimes good reasons to get angry.
Anger can
lead to sin and evil. For example, in anger we may speak and act too quickly
with little regard for the consequences. It takes a long time to build up a
relationship with another person or to establish a good reputation but a single
angry word can tear it down in just a few seconds.
Sometimes,
by listening and hearing the other person’s point of view, we can see other
ways to defuse a bad situation.
Proverbs 14
: 17a
Proverbs 29
: 22
Psalm 37 :
8
Colossians
3 : 21
3007