When Anger Is Not A Sin

DAILY VITAMIN

- When Anger Is Not A Sin

“Be you angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26)

                It is unrealistic to say that we must never be angry. That’s why our theme verse places a holistic divide between getting angry and sin. Anger can become a sin when not properly managed, but at other times it could also be a reaction (proof) of righteousness. Strange, right?

                You might be thinking ‘Who is this guy and what is he saying?’ because that isn’t what we are taught in Church these days. Well, first, Psalm 7:11 says that God is angry always with wicked acts; does that make Him a sinner? I guess not. And so it reveals to us that not just getting angry, but how we handle or manage it, is what makes it what it becomes- sin. Matthew 5:22 says that when we are angry with a person without a cause we have sinned. You see, being angry without a cause is motivated by hatred and not the zeal or need to institute righteousness, just as God does when angry with evil men.

For instance, if as an employer your staff keeps showing up late, and still treat the customers badly, you’re bound to get angry and might even query them. In this case, did you sin? No. But if because of that you keep acting coldly towards them, even when they are adjusting to act better, then it is, because now it has become a grudge- the subtle fruit of hatred.

When God is angry with the wicked, it isn’t out of a grudge, because once they change He holds them up in His love. That’s why it is never sin. Or when Jesus angrily rebuked the temple traders and the Pharisees at different occasions, it was simply motivated by His zeal for righteousness. And here’s the proof: He still went ahead to die for them all.

You see, anger is like a seed; it can grow into bitterness, wrath, hatred, jealousy. That’s when it becomes sin. But when it is driven by the need to reprimand evil, and left as that, then it’s just an emotion of feeling. And you can control how you feel. You can choose not to sin even when you get angry. It’s all about your reaction afterwards. It might have sprung up because of your need to see all that is right prevail, but if you don’t leave it at that, it can bring all that is wrong (James 1:20).

Its only remedy is forgiveness. Matthew 5:24 says “Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way: first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift”. You must consciously be ready to forgive them from your heart, lest the devil plants roots of bitterness that can hinder your spiritual progress (Hebrews 12:15).

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank you because you have forgiven me of all my sins in Christ Jesus, and by your Spirit have strengthened me to do the same to others. I thank you also for the fruit of the Spirit actively expressed in your life. And so I surrender myself to you- my emotions and all; and will walk every day of my life full of mercy and forgiveness as you have from the beginning. This I pray in Jesus Name. Amen