Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 7-10
Meditation Verse: 7:9
Thought
There's a certain power to anger. It feels good because it feels strong. And it has the ability to intimidate and even attack those who stand in its way. For those who possess it, it can achieve their desires. So it is attractive in so many ways. Those who have it seem strong and get their way, so who wouldn't be tempted by it? But the truth from God is that anger dwells in the hearts of fools. Only fools adopt anger as their favored tool. Angry men are fools! So it is not good in God's eyes to be quick to resort to anger to accomplish one's own desires. Anger consumes those who embrace it, and destroys those around it. Anger also easily leads to sin. So it is better to avoid it as much as possible.
Application
Anger rises most often when someone offends me or when I don't get my own way. I'm offended because I think I deserve some kind of treatment and I feel like I'm not receiving it. So it is to a man's credit to overlook an offense. If I can keep from getting angry, I can analyze carefully if there is error or wrongdoing involved. And if there is, I can calmly and reasonably offer correction. Anger is for overwhelming and controlling the opposition; it's for changing the behavior of another, not for winning them over to the truth. Anger assumes victory over another is necessary and achievable, but I don't need to have others do what I want, I just need to make sure I do what God wants. Each person is responsible before God, not me, to do what God wants. It's not my duty to make them comply with what I understand to be true; it's only my duty to offer them guidance on what I understand of truth. What they do is their own responsibility, even in how they treat me. If they treat me correctly, they have honor and reward from God. If not, it's my duty to leave it to God to avenge, if there's anything that truly needs avenging. So I need to let go of what I want from people and what I want for people. That's why Jesus didn't pressure people, but spoke publicly and left it to each individual to choose whether to follow Him or not. Everyone who didn't recognize and worship Him was offensive to Him, but He did not at that time judge them, partly because He came to offer salvation to any who were willing to receive it, and partly to leave me an example to follow. My job is to offer truth, not to compel people to receive and abide by it, nor to be angry when they don't listen to me or do what I say. That's God's responsibility. If I understand my place and my duty, I can be free of so much anger. "Anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires," not in me and not in others. Only God can do that.