ANGER RESTS IN THE BOSSOM OF A FOOL.
Text: Eccl 7:9 (nkjv) “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.” -> Anger labels you a fool.
What is Anger? :
<> Anger is an emotion characterized by antagonism toward someone or something you feel has deliberately done you wrong. Anger can be a good thing. It can give you a way to express negative feelings, for example, or motivate you to find solutions to problems. But excessive anger can cause problems.
Anger is a negative feeling state that is typically associated with hostile thoughts, physiological arousal and maladaptive behaviours. It usually develops in response to the unwanted actions of another person who is perceived to be disrespectful, demeaning, threatening or neglectfully
<> Anger is an intense emotion you feel when something has gone wrong or someone has wronged you. It is typically characterized by feelings of stress, frustration, and irritation. Everyone feels anger from time to time. It’s a perfectly normal response to frustrating or difficult situations.
Types of Anger:
1)- Justified Anger which means we have every cause to be angry. Some people call this a ‘holy anger’ -> Matt 21:12; John 2:13-16 (Jesus chased money mongers out the temple)
2)- Un-justified Anger
Xteristics of Anger:
When we are angry our body goes through certain biological and physiological changes. Examples of biological changes your body might go through include:
*Increased energy levels *Raised blood pressure *Spike in hormones like adrenaline and noradrenaline *Increase in body temperature *Increased muscle tension
Different Causes of Anger:
** Envy like that of Cain who slew Abel, his brother in Gen 4:1-16
** Covetousness – Ahab & Jezebel who killed Naboth cos of his inherited Vineyard (I kings 21)
** Inability to control one’s emotion or feelings (uncontrollable anger) – Elisha/ 42 boys (2 kings 2:23-24)
** Hatred – Saul appointed David leader over his armies, but he became jealous and angry because of David’s success and sought to kill him (1 Sam 18:6-9,)
** Pride – Haman/ Mordecai (Esther 5:9-6:14);
** Assumption
Question – Can we, as Christians be angry?
Answer – Yes, we can but let’s always have at the back of our mind what Eph 4:26-27 says.
Eph 4:26-27 (niv) “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.” White (kjv) “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.“
Cain slew Abel, his brother cos of jealousy which led to un-necessary anger (Gen 4vs3-8).
MANAGEMENT OF ANGER:
Anger is a normal human emotion that most people experience every now and then. However, if you find yourself feeling angry very often or very intensely, it may start to become a problem.
Anger, if not well managed or controlled, may lead to hostility: which may eventually have catastrophic consequences.
¶¶Management of Anger is a psychotherapeutic process or program for controlling anger and preventing its destructive manifestations:
¶¶“Anger management is an approach designed to help you manage the emotional and physiological arousal that accompanies anger.
The aim of anger management therapy is to help minimize stressful or anger-evoking situations, improve self-control, and help you express your feelings in a healthy manner, according to Engle.
1. Justifiable anger is having a sense of moral outrage at the injustices of the world—whether it’s the destruction of the environment, oppression of human rights, cruelty towards animals, violence in the community, or an abusive relationship at home. Justifiable anger may have benefits in the short term, as its intensity can be channelled into passion and action for change. However, any type of anger over time is inherently unhealthy, as it robs us of our peace of mind and causes suffering within. Feeling angry on a regular basis for any reason only hurts oneself in the long run.
<> “Don’t wait for things to change around you. Don’t believe that shouting for one thousand years will bring you relief. You have to practice liberating yourself. Then you will be equipped with the power of compassion and understanding, the only kind of power that can help transform an environment full of injustice and discrimination.” —Thich Nhat Hanh
2. Annoyance Anger which is the most common type of anger. Annoyance anger can arise from the many frustrations of daily life: a driver cuts you off on the road, your partner said something insensitive, the kids aren’t listening,
<> Don’t take anything personally… What others say and do is a projection of their own reality.” —Miguel Angel Ruiz
N.B: “For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
3. Aggressive anger is often used in situations where one individual attempts to exercise dominance, intimidation, manipulation, or control over another. When expressed repeatedly in relationships, aggressive anger becomes bullying, oppression, psychological violence, and emotional abuse.
<> Curb such actions early before it goes out of band
<> Correct out of love, and feed their souls with the word of God – Remember Prov 22:6
<> Most importantly, pray
4. Tantrum Anger – This type of anger often originates in childhood (due to multiple factors) and is typically part of a young person’s developmental and maturation process. The “terrible twos” phase of childhood is a classic example. However, some individuals never outgrow their tantrums and continue to unleash them in adult life when they don’t get their way (i.e., narcissistic rage).
I’m Conclusion:
Anger if not controlled, can destroy, and or kill; please put yourself under check. God bless you.
