About ten years ago, one of my employees came into my office and ranted for about a half hour. This man had been through a lot. Just before he came to work for me he had lost his business. His wife had a cancer scare and had surgery. Then on New Years Day, a pipe broke in his house and flooded it. He began to tell me about the flood damage. But before long, he started complaining about how badly he was being treated by his co-workers and how they were taking advantage of him. I listened for a while and didn’t comment. Eventually, he ran out of steam and just walked away. He called me later to thank me for listening and to apologize for the way he had talked about his co-workers, saying that he was just overwrought. We all get angry sometimes. I know I do. What makes you mad? And what do you do about it? Today, let’s listen to a passage from the book of James as he talks about anger:

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. (James 1:19-21)

For most of my life I have been blessed to be pretty even-tempered…but sometimes things just tick me off! Maybe you have a hot temper at times, just like me. In today’s passage, Jesus’ brother James tells us that we must listen more than we speak and we must be careful not to get angry. Then he tells us something that we really already know. Let’s listen to verse 20 again: “Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” Another translation puts it this way: “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James warns us: one way or another, our anger will be productive—but if our anger doesn’t produce the righteousness of God, what does it produce? It produces broken relationships, heartbreak, unforgiveness, and emotional damage. And don’t forget, there’s one other thing it produces: self-righteousness. When we believe we’re right, it easy to expect that someone’s got to pay for it! James, however, tells us there is something useful we can do about our anger. Get rid of the sin in our own lives, humble ourselves, and receive God’s word.

I'm talking to someone. You are struggling with anger today. Someone has really hurt you. Today is a great day to repent! Humble yourself—whatever that requires in your situation—and then take action. Forgive the wrong. Seek restoration in your relationship. Be more willing to be wronged than to be “right.”  Can you do it? Yes you can. Jesus will help you do it...and that is very Good News!