Remember the Sunset

Remember the Sunset 

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”  Ephesians 4:26-27 

The Bible has a lot to say about anger, probably because it is such an emotionally charged response. It says much more than this devotional can cover, but here are a few things to think about when it comes to anger management. 

First, it is sometimes ok to get angry. Jesus got angry when the temple area was being misused. John 2:15 says, “he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area,” saying, “How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” And in Exodus 22 God says that his anger is aroused when widows and orphans are taken advantage of. These are examples of righteous anger, and its focus is to correct a wrong. 

But we should not rush to get angry. The Bible also says that God is “slow to anger, abounding in love” (Psalm 103:8). And James tells us to be “slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires” (James 1:19b-20). 

This is a warning against “man’s anger,” which too often is focused only on making us feel better or venting. That’s why Ephesians 4:26 tells us, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” When we nurture anger and let it fester, it gives “the devil a foothold” as verse 27 says. 

When you feel anger coming on ask yourself why you feel that way. Address the issue as best you can, but don’t nurse your anger or let it fester. Make sure you deal with it before the sun sets. That’s the biblical guideline. 

Is your anger causing you to sin, giving the devil a foothold?