WHAT DOES ANGER HARM?
Matthew 5:21-26

In our previous time together, we began to study the teachings of Jesus regarding the relationship of murder and anger.  I don’t know about you, but there have been times in my life when I have not let God control my anger.  I have said things and even done things in those moments which I later regretted.  Yet, I have had people ask me what harm there was in demonstrating anger once in a while.

In verses 21 and 22, Jesus stated that anger often harms a person’s view of themselves.  Anger often comes because of our selfishness.  Someone else got that promotion at work that you felt should be yours.  The mechanic did not have your car ready when he had promised.  You were cut off on the freeway on your way home from work.  And the list could go on and on, but you get the idea.  Each of those moments of anger came as a result of your selfish interests.  Such moments of anger make us destroyers rather than builders.  I am reminded of what Harry Emerson Fosdick said one time about anger and hatred, Hating people is like burning down your house to get rid of a rat.  I guess that is explaining it pretty clearly.

One of the easiest expressions of anger is to hurl insults about the one you are angry at.  Jesus condemned the man who called his neighbor “raca.”   This word depicts a contempt for another.  It reminds me of that phrase Lucy was always calling Charlie Brown, “you blockhead.”  Jesus is condemning all forms of treating people with contempt.  Have you ever looked down upon another person because he or she was of a different race or socio-economic status than you were?  To do so is giving expression to a form of anger.

Another type of insult Jesus condemned was to call a man a fool, or a moron.  To call a person with this title was to cast aspersions upon his moral character.  Jesus is saying that the gravest thing of all was to destroy a man’s character or reputation. 

Friends, I have to stop and confess before God that I have been guilty of talking about another in a derogatory way.  No, I have not murdered anyone literally, but I have been guilty of character assassination, of murdering another person’s reputation.  Yes, those words brought pain to the one being talked about, but not nearly as much pain as I experienced.  There were those pangs of guilt and the humbling of an apology.  There were those lingering questions afterwards of why I would be so insensitive to have acted that way.  I had discovered what Jesus knew was truth – that anger that comes from a selfish motivation is very harmful. 

In our next visit, we will conclude our study of the teachings of Jesus about the harmful effects of anger.

Father, Because You are holy, You have commanded us to be holy as well.  Yet, holiness and anger based upon selfish motivations can not exist peacefully together.  Father, I am reminded of the need for a daily surrendering of myself and my goals to You.  I pray the prayer of the Apostle Paul, I die daily.  Lord, only with that personal surrender will my life be free from the selfishness that can cause heartaches for those I love when it is expressed.  Thank You for this reminder.  I pray this in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Amen.
             

 

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