Tuesday, May 3, 2022

RESPONDING TO ANGER

 RESPONDING TO ANGER

Ecclesiastes 12

  Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.

   Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.

   Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.

   Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well.  For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

   “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.”

   Keep this in mind: The Teacher was considered wise, and he taught the people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs, studying and classifying them. The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly.

   The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep.

   But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.

  That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

 

  Please begin today by rereading the above passage, especially the last few verses that define authentic life.

  We respond to anger in numerous ways. I need not list them for we are well aware of as recipient and/or practitioner of from detached objective calm to peeve to extreme. So let’s just skip cataloging and go directly to that which is most important: Dealing with anger in healthy way pleasing to our Lord, for by anger we are too often distracted and hindered here and are and shall be judged. The following is a pocket list to be carried and reviewed as needed. [inserts mine]  EBB4

 

  “A wise [man or] woman builds [his] her home, but a foolish [man or] woman tears it down with [his] her own hands. Those who follow the right path fear the Lord; those who take the wrong path despise him. . . .  The prudent carefully consider their steps. The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence. Short-tempered people do foolish things, and schemers are hated. Simpletons are clothed with foolishness, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.” NLT Proverbs 14:1-2, 14-18

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  “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness. The Lord is watching everywhere,

keeping his eye on both the evil and the good. Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” NLT Proverbs 15:1-4

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  “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

  Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. . . . NLT Romans 12:1-3

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  Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. [Deut.32:35] Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”[Pr.25:22]

  Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” NLT Romans 12:1-3, 17-21

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  “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 [or the justice] 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.

  But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.  You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

  If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.” NLT James 1:19-26

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