LOVE IS NOT ANGERED

“Love … is not easily angered”
(I Corinthians 13:5)

How would you respond in the following scenarios?

– You get cut off in rush-hour traffic and barely avoid an accident
– You back out of the garage and run over your son’s bicycle he left out all night
– Your spouse is late (again) for an important meeting
– Your spouse forgets your anniversary and plans a night out with the guys
– The referee makes a bad call that costs the game

Are you irritated?  Would you get angry?  Would you blow up?  Would you fly off the handle?  Would you yell and scream?  Would you lash out verbally or physically?  Would you stuff it and let it build up over time.  Would you fume for a while?  Would you quietly look for a way to get back?

You’re not alone.  Anger has been an issue for a long time.  Cain killed his brother Abel out of anger.  Joseph’s brothers.  Moses.  Jonah.  Peter.  Jesus even referred to James & John as “Sons of Thunder.”

There are many causes for anger:  impatience, unmet expectations, personal offenses, stress, fear, frustration, rejection, etc.  But it usually boils down to plain old selfishness.  Don’t believe me?  Think back to the last 3 times you got angry.  Now, look a little deeper.  What’s the root cause?

Anger is not necessarily a sin in and of itself.  The Apostle Paul wrote, “In your anger … do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26).   God gave us our emotions.  In fact, God has even been known to get angry Himself.  But anger can easily lead to sin.  And anger will destroy relationships:  marriages, families, and friendships.

Once again, the cure for anger is God’s love in our hearts.  The closer we draw to God, the more His love fills our heart and overflows into our relationships.  At least ten times in Scripture we read, “The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in love.”   I would sure love for people to say that about me – “(Dan) is slow to anger and abounding in love.” 

I’m afraid I have a ways to go.  How about you?

Dear Lord,
May Your love fill my heart and overflow to others.
May Your Spirit control my responses, replies, and reactions to people.
May I be slow to anger and abounding in love.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.