The Powerful force of anger

Religion

May 4, 2012

The Powerful force of anger

Anger Management: God’s Way…

Special to the Item The Picayune Item Picayune Item Fri May 04, 2012, 11:28 AM CDT

PICAYUNE — Perhaps one of the best known Bible stories is that of two brothers, Cain and Able (Gen. 4:1-16).

This story is also an excellent example of what anger can do to people. God was pleased with Able’s sacrifice but displeased with Cain’s. Rather than repent and do what pleased God, Cain becomes angry and decides to kill his brother.

So, Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. (Genesis 4:5) In a fit of jealous rage, many lives are changed forever. Able is dead. Cain is separated from God and his family. Their parents have lost a son. And Cain has lost a brother. What led Cain down this path of destruction? What were his thoughts and feelings? How much time did Cain spend brooding over the honor that Abel was given? What thoughts did Cain practice over and over in his mind? We can only speculate. However, our own experiences can give us some idea.

Hurt pride? “My offering was as just as good as his and it took just as much time to prepare.”

Self-pity? “I did the very best I could do. Why are you doing this to me? Nothing seems to go right–no matter how hard I try. Nothing I do pleases you”.

Failure? “My best is never quite good enough. I can’t do anything right.”

Jealousy? “Even if I had thought of doing that, you would like his offering better. He was always your favorite.”

Resentment? “What’s so special about his offering? Just look at it, it’s not that good! That’s not fair!”

Rejection? “Why would God treat me this way? Why was my offering turned down? What’s wrong with me?”

Bitterness? “I don’t have to take this and I won’t put up with it! I’ll fix this. I’ll take care of this my way. I am sick and tired of Abel and everything about him! I’ll show him!”

We do not know what Cain thought or felt. However, we can draw from our own experiences. We can easily let one thing pile on top of another and then another until we have built a mountain of resentment against others.

Thankfully, most people don’t develop and follow their thoughts and emotions as far as Cain did. However, the Bible tells us that even if we only think about doing something wrong, we have sinned. The time to put a stop to anger is when the thoughts and feelings first hit us. If we don’t, they can become a powerful force that we might not be able to stop.

God warned Cain that sin was crouching at his door. Thankfully, Jesus Christ offers freedom from the powerful force of anger. This is good news since we all face anger to one degree or another.

So? What do you do when you feel anger rising up within you?

What calms you down?

Or do you act on your thoughts and feelings?

Do you have a favorite Bible verse to help you?

Do you have someone you can talk too?

What do you do?

One significant insight we can learn from the incident between Cain and Able concerns the long lasting and far reaching effects of anger. No family would ever come from Able. His crops were left in the field (no record of them ever being harvested). An entire family was changed forever. And Cain’s problem with an incorrect act of worship was never resolved.

It is interesting that the first conflict recorded in the Bible was over worship.

In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. Ephesians 4:26 If you are having a problem correctly handling anger, get help today.

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