The Cost of Misplaced Anger
By Rick Warren
“A hot-tempered man . . . gets into all kinds of trouble.” Proverbs 29:22 (TLB)
Anger has a price tag. When you realize that truth, you’re more likely to control the anger in your life. The Bible tells us, “A hot-tempered man . . . gets into all kinds of trouble” (Proverbs 29:22 TLB). Most of us have seen someone do something really stupid because they were angry. And too many of us have seen the costly and damaging effects on people and families because of uncontrolled anger.
The Bible is very specific on the cost of anger. The Bible says:
- It causes arguments (Proverbs 15:18).
- It causes mistakes (Proverbs 14:29).
- It causes you to make foolish decisions (Proverbs 14:17).
You’ve probably seen all of these results from your own anger and the anger of others. The Bible is also clear on the ultimate conclusion of our inappropriately expressed anger. Proverbs 11:29 says, “The fool who provokes his family to anger and resentment will finally have nothing worthwhile left” (TLB).
Think of the impact anger has on your family. As parents, we’re often tempted to use anger to motivate our children. It works in the short-term. When you get angry, you put the fear of God (or the fear of you) into your children. Your kids may give you short-term obedience, but you’ll lose in the long-term.
The end result of misplaced anger is alienation. You alienate the very people you love the most. Eventually, you’ll get more anger back and finally just apathy. No one wants to be around you.
The truth is, you always lose when you lose your temper. You may lose your reputation, your job, your children, or the love of your husband or wife when you don’t control your anger.
And it’s never worth that price tag.
It’s not your mouth that gets you into trouble with your anger—it’s your heart! Therapy is good and important, but even the best therapy in the world can’t give you a new heart. Only God can do that. When you give your life to him, he gives you his love to replace your hurt, his peace to replace your frustration, and his power to replace your insecurity.
You know he will answer when you pray, “LORD, help me control my tongue; help me be careful about what I say” (Psalm 141:3 NCV).
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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