by Harry Osborne
A few years ago, Dad took me to a pro football game. It was a good game, but the real excitement was seen by millions on television as they watched the sidelines. Just before halftime, one coach threw a punch at another coach due to a disagreement about play selection. It had all of the marks of a sandlot fight between two children. When I got home and saw the replay, it made me think of the times I played ball with all of the neighborhood kids back in Pampa. Every mistake was followed by an argument and a scuffle about who was at fault. We were five to seven year old kids. Yet, if our parents had seen us, we would have gotten a spanking for such immaturity. By way of contrast, the scuffle at the aforementioned football game was between supposedly grown men. The instigator was well over fifty! To make matters worse, the reaction from the media and public seemed to be more in jest than an expression of shame. Sportscasters tried to suggest all kinds of deeper reasons for the outburst rather than calling it what it was - an immature temper tantrum!
What causes such childish displays? In short, it is due to a failure to learn self-control over one's temper. Unbridled anger has made many otherwise sensible people appear as fools. Just step back and watch an undisciplined child throw a temper tantrum some time. Does it not look pretty foolish? Such outbursts ought to result in the child receiving some "VIP" treatment (Very Intense Pain). Instead, it often winked at by too many parents. When such behavior is not corrected in children, it is too often found in their actions in adulthood as well. It is a sign of a time lacking in parental discipline and self-discipline that such outbursts would be seen as anything less than despicable.
The Bible has much to say upon the subject of controlling our temper. God repeatedly condemns the one who is quick to anger, but He praises those who let reason predominate over wrath. Let us notice a few examples:
Proverbs 14:29 - "He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly." The person who continually flies off the handle does not learn from situations and become wiser, but lingers in ignorance. The person who controls anger learns something from every occasion that will make him a better person.
Proverbs 29:22 - "An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression." An anger which is not controlled always brings other sins along with it. The fury of one so driven by anger leads him to do many things that more rational thought would have prevented.
Matthew 5:22 - "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire." Unreasonable anger is not only foolish, but will cause one to lose his soul. The rash words vented in anger are not a harmless release of steam, but an evidence of sin which will cause one to spend eternity with the devil in hell.
Ephesians 4:26, 31 - "Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath... Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice." Anger should not be allowed to dwell in one's heart and fester into raging wrath. It must be pushed out of the heart immediately "with all malice" never to return again. That means today and not tomorrow!
Proverbs 22:24-25 - "Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul." Not only does the unbridled wrath of an angry man bring trouble to himself, it also brings great turmoil for those would associate with such a person. Thus, God instructs us to keep our distance from a wrathful person lest we suffer from the fallout of his fiery temper.
Proverbs 17:27 - "He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit." Usually, a rash temper and constant talker occupy the same body. The traits prevent one from gaining understanding.
Proverbs 16:32 - "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city." Patience and an even temper will aid us far more than strength in this life. More importantly, such a demeanor is necessary to please God and share an eternal home in heaven with Him (2 Pet. 1:5-11).
Proverbs 19:11 - "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and it is to his glory to overlook a transgression." A patient man of wisdom recognizes that it is often best to suffer a wrong in silence. He does not try to retaliate for wrongs done to him (Rom. 12:17-21). Vengeance only works to make a bad situation worse by increasing hostility.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 - "Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools." That's plain enough, isn't it?
Instead of being rash, the Bible instructs us to follow a different path. James says, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:19-21).
In our speech, we must concentrate on hearing others and honestly evaluating the information they have to share before we react. When we think about their points, we may be persuaded by them and we will certainly be less inclined towards rash action in anger. Nowhere is calm, thoughtful discussion needed more than in discussions about religious matters.
The main aid to greater patience is found in filling our minds with God's word. It is the ultimate source of a more peaceful spirit. The word of God is filled with the things Philippians 4:8 tells us to think upon:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things.
Fighting coaches are not the only example of quick tempers. It is a sad fact that business meetings have received the nickname "World War III" because of the too frequent display of rash anger on the part of some brethren. Neither is the problem a "male thing" alone as can be noted by the number of churches where unified work in the kingdom is impossible due to petty squabbling born of wrath and bitterness. Those who disturb God's cause with such behavior will give account for their actions before His throne one day.
The same attitudes and actions are having a profoundly harmful effect upon our society as well. Child abuse, spouse abuse and other forms of domestic violence have their source in uncontrolled anger. Murder and violence in our world most often originate from impulsive wrath. Such evils will be banished by those who learn to control their tempers and meditate upon God's word.