HATRED AND ANGER – DESTINY ROBBERS

Every day, millions of people are being consumed by the flames of hatred and anger, and yet they do not realize it. We normally think that getting mad at someone takes its toll only on the person whom we were mad at, but now, in the cold light of science, the fallacy of that belief has been revealed. The worst thing about anger is that the person who gets angry at some other person is the one that suffers most. Medical reports have shown that hatred and anger have long-term effects on our physical bodies - digestive system, blood pressure, sense of well-being, stress and so on.

When we say of another person, “He burns me up, it is true he does. Though you might want to burn him up, all you succeed in doing is burning yourself up.” Again, we say, “I blew up,” that is true, we do.  You really want to blow up the other person but you only end up in blowing yourself up. Hatred and anger are fatal fires that if not quenched by the fire of God’s love, can kill literally. Hatred and anger are destiny robbers. None of these emotions are things to joke at – they must be recognized, understood and dealt with. If you cannot control them, they will control you and eventually ruin you.

There is this fictional character in a movie, whenever he is enraged turns into a powerful figure who has the ability to overturn cars, tear down trees, and bend steel bars as if they were made of rubber. This kind of picture can convey to children and young people, as well as some adults, the message that the way to tackle problems is by venting anger. But the Bible says, it’s okay to be angry ‘but sin not’ (Eph. 4:26).

In Mark 3:1-6, we see our Lord Jesus demonstrating a fierce but righteous anger. Anger is righteous when it is grief at sin and also when no grudge is attached. If we are honest, most of our anger is occasioned by self-concern and thus is unrighteous. Jesus was angry and did not sin. In Him, the fire of anger was under control; so let your anger be under control. 

WAYS TO AVOID ANGER

-         -   One of the ways in which one can simply control anger is to overlook the offence   

         (Proverbs 19:11).

-         -   By avoiding violent and hot-tempered friends. Bad company corrupt good manners. 

         It is better not to get close if you do not want to be like them. Proverbs 22:24, 25.