Danger: Bitterness and Anger!

Credit: Pixabay by paulracko

Bitterness is such an important topic that I am focusing on it again in today’s letter. Here is another reminder about the danger of Bitterness from the 1995 book, “Guiding Your Family in a Misguided World,” by Dr. Anthony Evans.

One day, two monks were walking through the countryside, on their way to another village to help bring in crops. As they walked, they saw an old woman sitting at the edge of a river. She was upset because there was no bridge, and she could not get across on her own. The first monk kindly offered, “We will carry you across if you like.” “Thank you,” she said gratefully, accepting their help. The two men joined hands and carried her across the river. When they got to the other side, the monks set her down and she went on her way.

After they had walked another mile or so, the second monk began to complain. “Look at my clothes,” he said. “They are filthy from carrying that woman across the river. And my back still hurts from lifting her. I can feel it getting stiff.” The first monk just smiled and nodded his head.

A few more miles up the road, the second monk griped again, “My back is hurting me so bad, and it is all because we had to carry that silly woman across the river! I cannot go any farther because of the pain.”

The first monk looked down at his partner, now lying on the ground, moaning. “Have you wondered why I am not complaining?” he asked. “Your back hurts because you are still carrying the woman. But I set her down five miles ago.”

This Sunday’s topic is Anger. Psychologist Thomas Harbin specializes in the treatment of male rage. In his 2018 book, “Beyond Anger,” he points out the negative effects of anger on family, friends and coworkers.

As a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of angry men, I’ve seen many of my patients lose jobs, wives, and opportunities because they were simply not able to handle the normal frustrations and disappointments in life. They argue, they insult, and they sulk. They come to think of themselves as ineffective, unlucky, or just plain losers. They don’t admit this to anyone, but deep inside, they feel inferior. Others don’t like them and they don’t like themselves. Their anger gets in the way of their ability to be good bosses, good workers, and good family men.

I have also spent a great deal of time evaluating men who have been charged with serious crimes, such as assault and murder. Many, many of these crimes were not premeditated. These men did not all start out with the intention of hurting others. They reacted impulsively – often out of anger.

Anger is most often used for evil, but did you know that it can be used for good? In Ephesians 4:26, the Apostle Paul instructs us to “Be angry, and sin not!” We can use Anger to bring about good – a Righteous anger. Or we can let our anger control us and have negative consequences – Unrighteous anger.

Which will we choose? Will we use our anger to honor the Lord – to be angry about the things that He is angry about? Injustice, abuse, violence, and more. Or will we get upset and irate over things that bother us personally? People and events that inconvenience or irritate or antagonize us? Let’s honor the Lord with Every choice we make.

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This Sunday, October 5, we will continue our series, “Tackling the Tough Stuff!”, with the relevant topic of “Anger: for Good or Evil?” from Ephesians 4:26-27. Is your anger Righteous anger or Unrighteous anger? Please invite someone to join you in the building or online for the Live broadcast on either Facebook (Honolulu AG) or our YouTube channel (Honolulu Assembly of God). We Livestream every Sunday to both locations and would love to have you join us!

Coming Up: “Girl Time Lunch & Fun” for all the ladies is this Saturday, October 4, at 11:30am. Bring a friend or two and something delicious to add to the table. Our next Drive-Through Prayer outreach in the parking lot is also this Saturday from 11am-1pm.

Aloha ke Akua!