Skip to main content

Ephesians 4:26

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
(NIV)


The biggest thing that I would like to point out here is that this verse does not say that all anger is sin. You can get angry, yet not sin. This is important. There are many who battle anger by trying to never get angry. The key is to determine what we do with the anger, we can get angry, but not sin.

To tackle sinful anger, it simply cannot be done in one short blog post, but let me try to outline the path of change. The Put Off is fairly simple, we need to put off sinful anger. It says it right there, In your anger... don't sin. The Put On is a little more hidden here, but I believe that it is still here, in the next part of the verse. To "not let the sun go down" you are going to have to deal with the problem. Jay Adams, in a booklet on anger, says that anger is energy to solve problems, and I believe that there is a lot of truth to that. We need to deal with the issue, today if possible.

Just a couple of other thoughts: Dealing with anger doesn't always mean that you are to go to the person. Many times it does mean that, in fact on some issues, we are commanded to go to the person. Consider Matthew 18:15-20. Using wisdom and discernment, there are some times that it is good to deal with it within yourself. In other words, sometimes the offense is better to overlook, consider Proverbs 19:11.

Don't let the sun go down again until you have dealt with your anger.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ephesians 4:31

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (NIV) This verse might be best served with some definitions. Bitterness - Just what it says, bitterness. It is a bitter root that produces a bitter fruit. Rage - Usually translated as Wrath. It has to do with a passionate anger. This is the person who is fuming. They are bubbling over with anger. Anger - This word has also been translated as wrath. It is most definitely referring to the actions associated with anger. It doesn't have to mean this, but their can also be the association with violence. This is the person who is acting out on their anger, in a sinful way. Brawling - Ok, I just learned something new, this word has to do with making an outcry, or a crying. After I read the definitions, what immediately jumped into my mind was the person who yells when they are angry. He may not do something violent, but he is letting everyone know exactly how angry he is. He is a ye...

Psalm 136:4

to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. (NIV) If this verse said, "to him who does great wonders..." it would still be a great verse. We could talk about all of the wonders that God does. Everything from the rings of Saturn and the Sombrero Galaxy to the forming of a child inside its mothers womb or even how electrons are spinning around the atoms and not flying off. We could talk about all of those things and marvel at His wonders. But get this, all of the great wonders are His! He doesn't just get credit for great wonders, He gets credit for all of them, because the verse says, "to him who alone does great wonders..." God has no counterpart. He has no arch-rival. There is none like Him, and He is the only one who is doing the wonderful stuff! He is the changer of hearts and lives. He is the redeemer. He is the savior. He is the God who hears and the God who sees. And the most wonderful of all, His love endures Forever!

Psalm 84:3

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young -- a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. (NIV) Every time I read this verse, I get this picture in my mind of the author, looking with longing at the temple, praying for the day that he can be there, and while he is praying, he sees these birds, building their nests near the temple grounds. He looks with jealousy, wishing that he could have that same freedom. The ability to be close to the temple, to the dwelling of God. But for now, he will be content to dwell with God from a distance.