Be angry, but don’t sin

Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah – Psalm 4v4

We all know that anger is a part of life. Uncontrolled anger can be a severe problem. Anger can lead to all kinds of unreasonable thoughts, words, and action. Because of that sometimes we might think that anger is a sin or that we displease God every time we are angry.

And yet here God tells us to be angry. The same words are repeated in the book of Ephesians. It is obvious from these words that anger itself is not sin.

Sin is an emotion. It is a part of our make-up. Anger is a part of who we are and it can be a positive and beneficial thing. Anger can lead us to deal with injustice. Anger can motivate us to sort out situations that we might never deal with otherwise. Anger can be righteous when it motives us to deal with sin in our own lives or even to deal with situations outside of our own lives.

However, it is an emotion that must be controlled. Be angry, but do not sin. Ephesians goes on to give us a clear application on how to apply this – ‘don’t let the sun go down on your wrath.’

Anger is one thing. Allowing it to degenerate and develop into a seething wrath.

So be anger with the right attitude, but never use anger as an excuse to sin. Never allow anger to grow into wrath.

Be angry, but deal with it. Don't go to bed angry.