The Bible has something to say about most, if not all the challenges that we face. Anger is a strong emotion that we are all familiar with, and scriptures are by no means silent on it. What does the Bible say about temper and managing anger?
1. Anger as a human emotion doesn’t move you to do what it right before God. Giving in to it leads to bad behaviour. (Psalm 37:8, James 1:20).
2. Controlling your anger shows how strong you are, not how weak. Having a cool spirit — being slow to get angry — is not only a mark of wisdom, but inner strength also. To possess this kind of strength is of greater value than being strong enough to conquer a whole city. It is something every believer must aspire to. (Proverbs 14:29, 16:32, James 1:19).
3. For a mature person, discretion dictates that not every offence requires a response. Sometimes it is more dignified to overlook an insult. (Proverbs 19:11).
4. You should let people given to fits of anger bear the consequences. If you keep rescuing them you’re enabling the behaviour and the cycle will continue. (Proverbs 19:19).
5. In particular, older Christians and leaders should be able to manage their temper well. (1Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:7, 2:2).
6. You may not be able to stop someone from angering you, but you can and should deliberately refuse to nurse that anger. To let it stay is to give the devil an opportunity. (Ephesians 4:26, 27).
7. Controlling your mouth when angry is a sign that you are a person of wisdom and understanding. Conversely, a habit of losing your temper and spewing forth angry words, or spoiling for a fight, indicates a lack of wisdom and is typical of fools. (Proverbs 12:16, 17:27, 29:11, Ecclesiastes 7:9)
8. The way you answer someone can either make them angrier and escalate issues, or calm them down and prevent a scene. Aspire to be a master of the gentle answer. (Proverbs 15:1, 18)
9. When you’re someone who is easily provoked, you are vulnerable, like a city without walls. You shouldn’t give others so much power over you, so learn to control your temper. (Proverbs 25:28)
10. As God has forgiven us in Christ and is no longer angry with us, so we too must put away fits of anger from among us and be tender-hearted and forgiving. (Ephesians 4:25-27, 31-32, Colossians 3:7-9).
It is God who works in us to produce the desired fruits, so our part is to yield and allow the Holy Spirit transform us.