Saturday, 21 September 2024
ANGER SERVES NO GOOD PURPOSE
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God (James 1:20).
The wrath of man does not achieve, allow, produce, or exercise God's righteousness. Anger is often linked with pride. When you see someone in anger over what others said or did to them, you’re seeing pride in display. If anger could hinder Moses, whom the Bible described as the meekest man on earth, from entering the Promised Land, then it’s something you must guard against.
Numbers 20:2-13 gives an account of how Moses allowed anger to overshadow his obedience. The consequences were severe. God reproved Moses for failing to sanctify Him before the people: "And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them" (Numbers 20:12).
Moses' anger thwarted his lifelong vision. He later glimpsed the Promised Land from afar but couldn’t go in with Israel as he had hoped (Deuteronomy 34:1-4). Let anger find no place within you. No one should cower because of your wrath. No matter what happens, restrain yourself from anger.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 says, “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” Every so often, declare, "There’s no anger in me; the love and compassion of Christ rules my heart.” “But Pastor Chris, the Bible acknowledges that we could be angry but not sin in Ephesians 4:26.” Yes, but it cautions against allowing anger to harden your heart.
Why harbour anger? It serves no good purpose. Instead, you can have holy anger. Holy anger causes you to respond in dealing with Satan and his evil works in the earth and in the lives of people. Holy anger makes you deliver people from trouble. When you see the work of Satan in someone’s life and you say, "No, I’m not going to let this happen," and you deliver that soul, that's holy anger; it causes you to demonstrate your faith and the love of God.
Unlike human anger, which instils fear and intimidates, holy anger exalts the Lord and advances His Kingdom. So, let your life reflect the love of Christ. Don’t allow anger to mar your witness or hinder God's work through you.
PRAYER: Dear Father, I thank you for your Word that guides me to serve you joyfully and spread your love and righteousness everywhere. Thank you for your grace at work in me to please you in all things and bring glory to your Name, as I manifest the character of peace and self-control, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Proverbs 16:32; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Colossians 3:8
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Galatians 5:16-26 & Isaiah 6-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 5:11-18 & Jeremiah 39