Anger Series

We are continuing our teaching series devoted to the Seven Deadly Sins. In his autobiography, Number 1, famous New York Yankee manager, Billy Martin told about hunting in Texas with the legendary, Mickey Mantle. Mickey had a friend who would let them hunt on his ranch and the two decided that would be fun. When they reached the ranch, Mickey told Billy to wait in the car while he checked in with his friend. Mantle’s friend quickly gave them permission to hunt, but he asked Mickey a favor. He had a pet mule in the barn who was going blind, and he didn’t have the heart to put him out of his misery. He asked Mickey to shoot the mule for him. When Mickey came back to the car, he pretended to be angry. He scowled and slammed the door. Billy asked him what was wrong, and Mickey said his friend wouldn’t let them hunt. “I’m so mad at that guy,” Mantle said, “I’m going out to his barn and shoot one of his mules!” Mantle drove like a maniac to the barn. Martin protested, “We can’t do that!” But Mickey was adamant. “Just watch me,” he shouted. When they got to the barn, Mantle jumped out of the car with his rifle, ran inside, and shot the mule. As he was leaving, though, he heard 3 shots, and he ran back to the car. He saw that Martin had taken out his rifle, too. “What are you doing, Martin?” he yelled. Martin yelled back, face red with anger, “We’ll show that son of a gun! I just killed three of his cows!”

Now, all sin is deadly but the Seven Deadly Sins are some of the biggest problems we can find ourselves in. Anger makes the list of the seven deadly sins because for centuries people have witnessed its destructive power and influence.

I am sure that you’ve notice we ALL have unmet expectations in life. Take thanksgiving for example., Mom, thinks Thanksgiving is going to be as picturesque as Norman Rockwell painting. But, Dad’s thinking that Thanksgiving should look more like Buffalo Wild Wings – including five TV’s showing every game being played. What does this equal? Unmet expectations.

Let’s think about dating apps. You see someone whose picture on the app looks very attractive. But, when you meet in person, the first date reveals his picture might just be of someone else. What does that equal? Unmet expectations.

Often our anger is aroused when we encounter unmet expectations.

The Sin of Anger

Anger can take many forms - from resentment to indignation, to rage or even fury. Anger can also present many problems to our personal health. Anger can translate into eating disorders and increased weight, says 2004 study from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The study goes on to say that our anger problems can lead to a high risk of cardiovascular disease at a young age. You probably knew that uncontrolled anger can lead headaches and ulcers. But did you know it can also cause lead to depression, stroke, and even heart attack?

There are so many problems with anger. Some of the people who are closest to us can feel the weight of our anger. Anger can hurt you, but it can also be tornado of pain for everyone around you.

Look in your Bible at 2 Kings 5. Our story comes from around 800 years before the time of Jesus. Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Syria (present day Damascus) in the time of the prophet, Elisha.

Today’s Scripture

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.” 8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage” (2 Kings 5:1–12).