Becoming Slow To Anger

Becoming Slow to Anger

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

James 1:19-20

AS WE’VE BEEN DISCUSSING, the way you handle anger can be detrimental to your marriage. Today we look at step four in controlling your anger: Analyze your options. Now that you know why you are angry, you can decide how you are going to respond.

There are many things that you might do, some of which are extremely harmful. You could give your spouse a tongue lashing. Some people move into physically abusive territory and shake or even hit the other person. God hates that kind of violence; in fact, Psalm 11:5 says that he hates those who love violence. The apostle James encouraged his readers to be slow to anger because of this very issue—that anger often results in unrighteous actions, which are not what God desires for us. You need to set aside those sinful responses and take a more positive approach.

Whatever you contemplate doing, you must answer two questions. First, is the action I’m considering positive? That is, does it have the potential for dealing with the wrong that was committed and making things better? Second, is the action I’m considering loving? Is it designed to benefit the person at whom I am angry? If the answer to these two questions is yes, then you are ready for the final step.

Father, forgive me for the times when I am quick to get angry and sin in my anger. Please give me strength as I try to make better decisions about how I will respond.

Anger