James 1:19 – 21 “My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.”
Recently the news has been flooded with horrific images of neighborhoods being looted and burned. Recent social media has been full of angry posts promoting violent causes, criticizing violent causes, criticizing those who are not violent enough, etc. Jesus said that we would know a tree by its fruits. At the end of the day, what kind of fruit is this anger bearing? Is it actually accomplishing anything?
It was Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. who said “Anger is fake power. We don’t acutally control anyone with anger. When we choose to use anger it ends up controlling us.” The Apostle James told his hearers that “man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.”Both men are correct.
Throughout the world, there is a need for social change. Injustice is not limited to any particular country or to any particular skin color. Insofar as all of us are human, all of us have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Unless we undergo a holy heart transplant, each one of us is capable of unspeakable evil.
One problem today is a lack of humility. Rather than acknowledge that each of us has a sinful nature and that only through God can we be changed, we choose to behave as though we are really superior beings. Many of us appear to believe that those who do not agree with us whole – heartedly are deserving of punishment; meanwhile, we do not know their hearts. Believing that we alone know what is best, we blunder on our way, hacking at those who are not measuring up to our particular set of standards.
James has the answer for us: we are to be quick to listen and slow to speak. We also need to examine our own hearts. Rather than jumping to conclusions about others, we must look inside ourselves. Have we treasured hatred, slander, vicious attacks? Are we thrilled at violence and bloodshed? What moral filth and expressions of evil are we cherishing in our own hearts and calling it righteous indignation?
Do not prize anger. You might think that you are controling your anger, but in the end, it will control you. And anger feeds into self – pity and self – pity feeds into bitterness, and bitterness feeds into anger. And all the time this is happening, you are digging a deeper pit inside your soul.
PRAYER: Father God, we confess that we are the problem and not the solution. We have judged others but have allowed ourselves to become people of anger and people of hate. Lord, change us into people of love, for only then can you work through us. In the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
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