In an earlier post I wrote about making a choice between being right or righteous. This is often a choice we should make in moments of impending anger. We almost always think we have the right to be angry, but, in my experience, we don't.
Ed Welch has written a devotional, Small Book about a Big Problem: Meditations on Anger, Patience, and Peace. In this excerpt from the book, he provides tremendous insights into the nature of anger.
If you want to know God, know Jesus (Heb 1:1–3). He is the most comprehensive picture that God gives of himself, and he did get angry. He was angry with leaders who were more interested in protocol than they were in a man being healed (Mark 3:5). He was angry when people were using the temple as a way to make a profit, thereby disrupting worship and showing disdain for his Father’s house (John 2:13–17). He was indignant when his disciples kept children away from his blessing (Mark 10:14). When other people’s welfare was at stake, Jesus was angry. Here is how he is unlike us: He was never angry when he was personally violated. People tested him, accused him of being from the Devil, betrayed him, denied him, brought false charges against him, spit on him, sought to heap shame on him, and nailed him to a murderer’s cross. He never got angry because his personal desires were violated. Ever. Instead, the Judge of the world gave his right to judge over to his Father. (Day 15) (my emphasis)He continues: "Angry people are confident in their rightness, and confident people have little reason to listen. But, in my experience, if they ever listen, they listen at this point. Jesus, THE human, was never angry when he was sinned against. It’s unexpected to learn this and helps the angry person to begin to see anger rightly."
Meditate on this. How often do we become angry when we perceive an offense, a lack of respect, etc.? Jesus never did. More on this in future posts.
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