Our sermon this week that was about the vice or sin of anger. I was reminded that anger should be directed at the situation and that I should direct that anger at doing something about it. This is a stark contrast to where anger is generally directed in a lot of situations. There is a tendency to direct our anger at a person and lash out at them.
I have a good amount of anger when things do not work out and thereby creating more work for everyone involved. When something goes wrong or does not play out the way it should have or in a way that can be overcome quickly, there is a feeling that someone should have thought about that and taken care of it. That someone is usually deemed the one that caused the situation as they should have thought about it and had a plan beforehand. This is exactly the wrong approach with regard to directing anger.
Instead of directing anger at the person that should have or not thought of how to avoid a situation before the situation arose, there should be a direction of that anger at how to resolve the situation and overcome. This will be the more productive approach.
This morning as I study I am taken to the book of Genesis and the story of Cain and Abel. This part of the story is of the offering given by each the jealousy and pride in that situation.
“3In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.” — Genesis 4:3-5 (ESV)
Cain ends up taking his anger at the situation out on his brother Abel by killing him. Whereas for the moment, Cain may have felt some relief in that he would no longer be in the shadow of Abel, this did not solve the situation of Cain’s offering not being regarded by God. In fact, now God was angry at action taken by Cain and laid out punishment for those actions.
Notice that God was angry, not at Cain, but the situation and Cain was punished for the action, not for being Cain. Too often I believe and see with my own eyes that there is anger and punishment for the person for being the person and there is little looking at the situation and actions.
I have to remember that anger is okay to have and that anger can be used to change things, but only when directed at the actions and situation and not when directed at the person or individual. When directed at the situation, there is a chance to change things and adjust for the now and the future. We have the chance to make the adjustments and repair the situation we are currently in and learn from it to avoid the situation if and when it comes up another time.
Being angry is not a sin, nor should it be frowned upon. As long as that anger is directed correctly, it can be useful in overcoming situations. I have to remember to direct my anger at the situation and not at any person. When I do, I am able to refocus and take action to overcome and learn and impact in a positive way.
What situations do you find yourself angry? Where are you directing your anger? What if you focused you anger on the situation and not the people involved and allowed for the impact on that situation today as well as future instances?
Trevor's Thoughts 