“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form
of malice.”
of malice.”
Ephesians 4:31 (NIV)
God asked Jonah twice; “is it right for you to be angry?”
Great question to ask our selves the next time angry grips us.
Many times, our first response to this question is – Wait a minute anger is not wrong- for the bible says in Ephesians 4:26 “in your anger do not sin.” So therefore, it is possible to be angry and yet not be in the wrong. The term for being right while being angry is ‘righteous anger’ or ‘righteous indignation’.
It would be beneficial to us if we would read that verse in its context- that is - read the verses around that verse and allow them to lend meaning to the verse itself. As we do that it seems that the topic of the paragraph is a contrast between how we used to live and how we can now live in the Spirit. We can notice that what is being taught is a progression from our old habits to a new way of life. In that progression we start by trying not to sin while we are angry - perhaps we won’t swear at people anymore, or say hurtful things, we won’t throw things at people nor hit people nor break things. We won’t allow ourselves to harbour anger overnight, which gives the devil a foothold to wreak destruction in our loves. Initially it seems that verse 28 is misplaced for it separates the topic of sinning while angry, Paul addressing the ‘sin’ that comes from anger (hurtful words), and the destructive effect this sin has on our relationship to the Holy Spirit who enables us to live this new life. Yet if we accept that the verse order is God breathed, we realize that we needed a practical example of higher plane living, in order to encourage us that the harder to reach higher plane of living, where we get rid of anger, is attainable. YES – we can get rid of anger!
James 1:20 tells us that human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires, we who are convinced we are righteous in our anger are so right that we are wrong!
The passage in Ephesians 4 goes on to tell us to replace that angry behaviour with God-like behaviour - for as verse 28 taught us that sharing with others will displace stealing, so forgiving one another as in Christ God forgave us, will displace anger.
It seems clear to all who read Jonah 4 that Jonah’s anger is despicably wrong, and yet it was real to Jonah, and we are left wondering if he ever realized how sinful his anger was.
Do we realize how sinful our anger is?
Will we allow the Holy Spirit to ask us the question; “John is it right for you to be angry?” Will we surrender to the Spirit, tell Him that we don’t think this anger is right and ask Him to take us to that higher plane- that spiritual plain of getting rid of all bitterness, rage and anger by replacing them with forgiveness?
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Refrain:
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
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