The Bible talks about anger a lot of the time. As one of the most common emotions, it is important for us to understand it from a Biblical standpoint. In this post, let’s see what the Bible says about anger and most importantly, how we can manage it.

---

What does the Bible say about anger video

Brethren, if you’re a basketball fan, you have probably seen the NCAA game between St. Benilde and Jose Rizal University. The game wasn’t popular because of a great game, but rather because of the ugly fight that happened.

A player of the JRU went on a punching spree, trying to punch anyone in a white uniform. If you have seen the video, it was just a mess. Moments after the brawl, that player was seen in a video where he was crying hard, probably, he realized the repercussions of his actions.

Later, that player was indefinitely suspended by the NCAA. Not only that, but he is going to face sanctions from his school, and might lose his scholarship if he has one. He will also face civil and criminal sanctions. What’s worse, his dream of being in the PBA might not be as bright as it should be anymore.

Now, you can see what happens when you let anger control your life. In this example, we can see how a moment of anger can lead to a lifetime of regret.

Anger is something we don’t just see in basketball. You might have heard of road rage where people get so angry that they attack other drivers and sometimes, they can kill others.

Perhaps, you will say, “I haven’t been that angry. I haven’t tried punching or killing anyone because of anger.”

Well, anger doesn’t have to be just about punching or stabbing people to death. Anger is more common than you think.

Here’s an interesting survey. Just this year, Gallup, a global analytic firm found out that the Philippines is the second angriest country in Southeast Asia. The same study concluded that in 2020, the world is angier and more stressed out than in the past 15 years.

I would say that it is difficult for us to go through a day or week without feeling angry. That’s why my brethren, today, I want to talk about anger and answer important questions for us to understand it better. I have three questions that I aim to answer through this message:

• Is anger wrong?
• What’s wrong with anger?
• How to manage anger?

So, if you’re ready, let’s discuss!

Is anger wrong?

Anger is not always wrong. We can read in the Bible that Yahweh became angry multiple times. Yahshua, the Son of God, also got angry. We read in Ephesians 4:26:

²⁶ “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.

So, there’s a time when it is okay to be angry but it shouldn’t lead to sin.

What’s wrong with anger?

We read the answer in James 1:19-20:

¹⁹ So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; ²⁰ for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

The anger and wrath of man have the tendency to break the law of Yahweh. Uncontrolled anger can lead to hateful words and actions. Anger can blind us and make us lose control of ourselves. In the heat of the moment, we feel so justified, we feel so right to insult, be rude, and even hurt other people. Because of anger, we thought that one has the right to hurt other people.

Anger can also make us remove restraint and rational thinking. That’s the reason you should never discipline your child when you are angry. It is advisable to cool down before confronting other people. It is better to talk when you have already pacified your anger.

Many people think that they are strong when they are able to release their anger. However, the Bible tells us that people who can’t control their anger are actually weak and the true sign of strength is when you have the ability to control your emotion and that includes anger.

Proverbs 25:28 tells us:

Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.

Also in Proverbs 16:32:

³² He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

How to manage anger?

As I have mentioned, anger is not always wrong. That’s why the main goal is not to overcome anger and never be angry for the rest of your life. Rather, you need to manage and control anger in a godly manner.

So, how do you manage anger?

There are plenty of Bible verses that help us learn how to manage anger. However, let me just focus on what James mentioned. We have already read this earlier in James 1:19:

¹⁹ So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

There are three things here:

• Swift to hear
• Slow to speak
• Slow to wrath

Swift to hear

So, to manage anger, we must be swift to hear. Swift to hear who? First of all, hear God’s instructions. This is why we should always read the Word of God. When we are filled with God’s word, we can’t be easily angered, offended, and frustrated. That’s the power of God’s words.

Next, we should be swift to hear other people. Sometimes, all we need is to know the other side of the story. We need to understand others and when we see things from the perspective of other people, we become more understanding and patient.

Slow to speak

When we are swift to hear, we naturally become slow to speak. When we are angry, it takes more strength to stay calm and be silent. It is true that it is more difficult to listen rather than talk. Yet, that’s exactly what we should do during arguments. You need to listen twice as much as you speak. We need to be careful with the words we say. We need to be cautious because there’s more danger in talking rather than in remaining silent.

That’s the reason God gave us two ears and one mouth. You can’t even close your ears, but you can definitely close your mouth. I would say that Yahweh is making a point there.

Slow to wrath

Finally, you need to be slow to wrath. What this means is that we set limits. It doesn’t mean if you do that again, I’m going to get angry. It means that our general disposition, our default thinking, and our natural response should not be anger and wrath. Our response should lean towards love, mercy, and patience.

When there’s something that will naturally make you angry, you choose to be understanding instead of seeking revenge or getting even. You choose to be merciful and forgiving rather than to be filled with bitterness and hate. That’s what it means to be slow to wrath.

Final words

Brethren, with that, said, I hope you were able to learn more about what the Bible says about anger. This is practical teaching that you can apply right now. If you are not angry now, I’m sure you will. That’s why this is an important topic for all of us. When the time comes and you become angry, I hope you remember the lessons from this message.

---