Good morning people who stop excusing anger as normal and reasonable.

Proverbs 14:29 MEV He who is slow to wrath is of great understanding, but he who is hasty of spirit exalts folly.

Honesty time: I can far too easily be quick to get angry. Sure, it is normally around people doing the wrong thing, but I often react in the flesh, and it is about a violation of “my rights”.

At this point, some may quote the one time Jesus made a whip, turned over the money changer’s tables, and drove them out of the temple. Yes, this did happen, but let’s hear what Father wants to say to us today.

Firstly, we are not Jesus (I’m just saying). When Jesus did this, He was acting perfectly in love and truth. When I do “similar” things, I can do it out of frustration and annoyance. It’s different.

Secondly, this was one time that Jesus did this (and He did it perfectly) – it was not His way of living; it wasn’t what He was characterised by or known for. Sometimes, I can be known for my feisty reactions to wrong. There are times when this is appropriate – we are told to hate sin – but there are also times when I am misrepresenting God.

There is a real key found in the Book of James about how we can learn to be slow to anger. Let’s take a look:

James 1:19-20 MEV Therefore, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.

With God, order always matters, and these verses contain God’s correct order. I could do better at listening well; being swift to hear. If I do better at listening well, I will do better at being slow to speak. And if I do better at being slow to speak, I will do better at being slow to get angry. Order matters, and the right order is empowering.

And then James finishes with a strong and helpful statement for us to remember: for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.

May we all learn Father’s way in this, and may this all be for the glory of God and the blessing of others.