DAD'S RAMBLINGS – Is Anger Ever Justified?
Jonah 4:4
"Then the LORD said, 'Is it right for you to be angry?' "
This is an interesting question. Is it ever right to be angry? I think the crux of the issue is, "What am I angry about?" David Wilkerson [Teen Challenge] wrote a book entitled, "I'm Not Mad At God." I think it depends on the focus of my anger. I think I need to be angry (righteous indignation) at injustice, and what sin does to people, or even my own stupidity. But if my anger is against God or other people, then it is misplaced anger. I don't hear any anger or condemnation in God's question to Jonah. Rather I hear compassion and a tinge of grief. God knows that I am made of dust (Psalm 103:14). He understands that I get angry. After all, He created within me the emotion of anger for a purpose. But He also says, "Be angry and do not sin; don't let the sun go down on your wrath" (Psalm 4:4; Ephesians 4:26). So I need to be very careful about my anger, "...lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and ... many be defiled" (Hebrews 12:15).
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Anger has a purpose but it needs to be focused properly.
Have a "focused" day. Love you.
Jonah 4:4
"Then the LORD said, 'Is it right for you to be angry?' "
This is an interesting question. Is it ever right to be angry? I think the crux of the issue is, "What am I angry about?" David Wilkerson [Teen Challenge] wrote a book entitled, "I'm Not Mad At God." I think it depends on the focus of my anger. I think I need to be angry (righteous indignation) at injustice, and what sin does to people, or even my own stupidity. But if my anger is against God or other people, then it is misplaced anger. I don't hear any anger or condemnation in God's question to Jonah. Rather I hear compassion and a tinge of grief. God knows that I am made of dust (Psalm 103:14). He understands that I get angry. After all, He created within me the emotion of anger for a purpose. But He also says, "Be angry and do not sin; don't let the sun go down on your wrath" (Psalm 4:4; Ephesians 4:26). So I need to be very careful about my anger, "...lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and ... many be defiled" (Hebrews 12:15).
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Anger has a purpose but it needs to be focused properly.
Have a "focused" day. Love you.
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