Lesson 393: "Useful Anger"
We are taught through scripture not to sin in our anger (Eph. 4:26) and David wrote; “in your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent” (Ps. 4:4). Since it is humanly impossible for us not to become angry at some time in our lives then maybe we can learn to do something useful with our anger. The Greek word for “useful” means “good”. Is it possible to be angry and to good at the same time? The Darby Bible translation of Psalm 4:4 is “be moved with anger and sin not”. If one can be moved to anger then surely one can be moved to pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:16). God can change attitudes and hearts when we begin to thank Him and praise Him. This is not so much a decision on our part as it is a command from Jesus who tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44).
Need help to overcome anger? Ask a friend to pray with you (Matt. 18:19-20). Not only are their prayers helpful we are making them useful, and both are witnesses to the power of God. Need more help? When we are in prayer we talk to the One who stilled the storm (Mark 4:39). Notice Jesus used the same words, “be still” when He spoke to the wind as God used in Psalm 46:10 when speaking to the nations; “be still and know that I am God”! This same God can still any and all anger and resentment within us and once again make us useful to Him and His purpose.
To be useful we must have goodness and true goodness can only flow out of a life right with God and yielded to Him (3 John 11). Goodness is associated with faithfulness (Matt. 25:21) and honesty of receiving God’s Word and producing a good crop (Luke 8:15). Being filled with goodness brings knowledge and competence to instruct (Rom. 15:14), and goes beyond our anger and sufferings to perseverance, character, hope and love in our hearts (Rom. 5:1-5). Barnabas was a “good man”. He was generous, honest, patient, unselfish and encouraging, demonstrating the connection between “not sinning in anger” and being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:22-26). The Holy Spirit will not leave you but you, through anger, can put out the Spirit’s fire when you do not hold onto what is good (1 Thess. 5:19-21).
Goodness does not come naturally to our sinful nature. Goodness is characterized by our moral nature derived from godly living (Rom. 7:18-21). Ask God to channel any anger that springs up within you to a good and useful purpose. “The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it” (1 Thess. 5:24).