Controlling our Anger

Everyone should be . . . slow to anger. James 1:20

Cletus, a childhood friend of Alexander the Great and a general in his army, became drunk and insulted the leader in front of his men. Alexander became enraged and hurled a spear at Cletus, intending merely to scare him. Instead, the spear killed Alexander’s life-long friend.

Remorse engulfed Alexander as he assessed the destruction of his controllable anger; it affected his entire being. His sudden outburst of anger is what the Greeks likened to fire in straw, which flares up briefly and is gone. Though anger is a natural human emotion, and is not itself a sin, it becomes sinful when its wrath is used for selfish gain. Most forms of anger are a reflection of a selfish, sour heart and can only be renewed by humble submission to God’s grace. When fully yielded, the fruit of the Spirit begins to mature so that self-control will soften stiff opinions and harness wrath toward others.

Albeit, not all anger ends in sin. Moses smashed the first Ten Commandments because the Jews mocked God, resulting in their return back to the Lord. Since most anger is not righteous indignation, however, we should learn from Alexander the Great, a man who conquered the unknown world, but could not conquer his own temper. If we don’t control our anger, it will control us.

“No use turning up hot coals when you have to walk across them.” – Bernard Malamud