Week 51: Anger
Weekly Chapters:
Hebrews 1 - I Peter 5
Passage of the Week:
James 1:19-20 and 3:1-12
Noun:
A strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong
Thesaurus:
Annoyed
Bitter
Enraged
Exasperated
Heated
Furious
Impassioned
Outraged
Father God,
You have taught us so much about our feelings and emotions throughout this past year. I know that we are all opening up to more of what you desire in our lives. I am encouraged to know that Your plan is not over; You are constantly working on us, in us, and for us. Father God, your blessings continue, and I am overwhelmed by your grace. Thank you, Father.
Amen
Authentic vulnerability:
We are finally here, 51 weeks in, and to the emotion that started this study: anger
Anger is where it all started for me. I had unquenchable anger inside of me. Anything and everything could set me off. I was unhappy with everyone in every situation; no one could meet my expectations, resulting in anger.
My friend said something her therapist said to her, and it clicked for me. “You must be really hard on yourself.” She replied to her therapist, “I guess.” He said, “you have to be because you are so hard on others around you that no one can live up to your expectations. You have high expectations of yourself and others, but no one can ever live up to those expectations, and you are angry. Your expectations are too high, and no one will ever be able to measure up to them”.
Oh, that really hit home because, YES!
What is your Authentic Truth?
Study:
I love, love, love the book of James. It is full of fun little quips like this. The author is uncertain, but most believe it to be Jesus’ brother. Here nor there, he is the king of hit home dialog.
James starts his letter by saying that we will have trouble and look on the bright side when it comes. Our troubles are opportunities for growth and endurance, making us better people (James 1:2-4).
He says God is always there for you, but in whatever you ask of him, make sure your motives are pure, and your loyalty is in God. God’s got your back (James 1:5-8)
Then he blows it out with don’t blame God for your temptation—that is on you and your desires (James 1:12-15). Truth.
I could go on, but our topic is anger.
James 1:19-21
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
I love this verse. James says to slow your roll, don’t get all up on your high horse, take some time to breathe, get rid of all that stinkin’ thinkin’, and get in some time with the good book (AKA Bible).
So, not a literal translation, but you get the point.
Next, James says reading your Bible is not enough (James 1:22-23). You got to O.B.E.Y., Obey. Then he follows with, and this is the kick in the pants,
James 1:26-27
26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Oh, tell it, James! James calls it as he sees it.
It reminds me of that song from “Grease” where Sandy tells Danny, “You better shape up because I need a man and my heart is set on you…”. James is telling us to shape up, control our tongue, or you are basically a hypocrite. God’s heart is set on us, but if we cannot step it up and provide some self-control, loving others, then maybe don’t claim to be religious (James 1:26-27).
James talks about that evil tongue of ours, and a few more times in James 5:12, he says to do what you say. A simple yes or no, and then as Nike says, “Just do it.”
Where James really gets into it is in James 3:1-12. James says that if we could control our tongues, we could control other areas of our lives too. James is telling us that we are not perfect (verse 2). James digs into our saucy mouths by saying a tiny spark can set a forest ablaze. And our tongue is a flame that can corrupt our entire being, and then he goes on to relate our tongue to the fires of hell (verses 5-6). In verse 10, he calls it precisely right when he says that we can both bless and curse from the same mouth.
James 3:11-12
11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
Preach, James, Preach!
My anger can be an uncontrollable fire raging out of control. My anger can burn white-hot and blow across its intended victim like the winds of Northern California during fire season, scorching the earth for acres.
James is not wrong in anything he says, and his honesty is mind-blowing, right on.
Now is the why—why am I so angry?
Well, James clears that up in the next section (James 3:13-18), the wisdom of God is pure and peace-making. By seeking God and his wisdom, his design for our life (see James 4:13-17) instead of my selfish ambition (James 3:14), our lives can be peaceful; we can let the little things go and focus on the big things like extending the grace God gives us.
I love that James talks about the grief of repentance and healing (James 4:7-10) and reminds us of the true power of prayer and time with God (James 5:13-18).
Father God,
Thank you for the realness of James. This type of dialog is the straight talk, tough love we need. I need my bad behavior exposed so that I can recognize it and release it. Father God, continue to work on me. Please give me the strength to confront myself and call myself out. I love you, Father.
Amen.
Homework:
Reread James a few times. You will get more and more out each time. Take notes.
Put some 90’s movie character in to talk some street smarts to you. Think Stand and Deliver or Lean on Me where Edward James Olmos or Morgan Freeman give it to you straight.
Now read it like your grandmother or grandfather is reading it to you with gentle and loving words.
