Anger is a natural emotion that affects us all. In Ephesians 4:26-26 the Bible tells us to be angry but sin not. Proverbs 29:11 states that, "A fool gives full vent to anger but a wise person quietly holds it back". Here are some questions that we can answer to see if we have an anger problem:
1. Do we often blow our top?
2. Do you use anger to control people?
3. Does it give you satisfaction to know that people are afraid of you?
4. Are your immediate family members afraid of you?
5. Do your angry outbursts ever turn physical?
As believers we have a responsibility to analyze our anger to see what it's made of and where it comes from. Anger is addictive. Just like a drug, anger is an adrenaline rush and creates a feeling of invincibility. We have to be honest with ourselves in order to be fully delivered from the destruction of anger. It is the nature of an addict to live in denial. Anger must be intensified in order to maintain its effectiveness. Hollering and screaming will work for a while. When we realize that it does not have the same affect, one tends to escalate their anger to achieve the same result of dominance and control. Anger produces collateral damage. Innocent people are wounded as a result of your anger. Like a bomb, any time an explosion happens, you can run the risk of doing more damage than you intended. People who use anger as a tool can be very successful by world's standards, but you leave a trail of tears. Lastly, anger stunts your Spiritual growth. You can never grow stronger than your biggest weakness. Anger can poison virtually all of your relationships. You will end up trying to make vengence yours instead of it being God's.
Be well,
Pastor Hines
