The Conundrum of Anger

CONSIDER
It seems apparent that there are times we can be angry and sinful, but there can also be times we can be angry without being sinful. So what is the difference?

BIBLE TRUTH

"The Lord your God, who lives among you, is a jealous God. His anger will flare up against you, and he will wipe you from the face of the earth." (Deut. 6:15 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
God can be jealous because He has no rival! In like fashion, God can be angry and not sinful because He is the only one who has a right to expect anything! Since He is God, He created the world and all that is in it. He established the order of all that is. Therefore, He knows exactly what to expect and has every right to expect things to go according to His blueprint.

Anger is a God-given emotion designed to assist in addressing issues. We get angry as the result of unmet expectations. Something we expected to happen did not occur. Our anger is not sinful when we expect the same things God expects. Sin enters the scenario when we expect our self-centered expectations to be met. As Creator and Sustainer, God is justified in having His expectations met. However, because I am not God, I have no right to demand that my expectations be fulfilled. When we assert that our way must be followed, we are usurping God and elevating ourselves above His position. This idolatry is sin, and the anger that results from expecting to get our own way is also sin.


PRAYER
God, Sometimes it is difficult, but I do not want to become conceited or provoke others. Help me not to be jealous of others either. . . . (Gal. 5:26)



(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

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