ANGRY?
OBSERVATION:
PROVERBS IS A COLLECTION OF WISE SAYINGS AND PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES TO LIVE BY. THE WRITINGS DIRECT YOU TO A WELL MANAGED LIFESTYLE. WISDOM ALWAYS GIVES RESPECT TO GOD. THIS STUDY ADDRESSES ANGER FROM A POSITIVE AND A NEGATIVE ASPECT.
INTERPRETATION:
PROVERBS 25: 21-22 (NKJV) IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, GIVE HIM BREAD TO EAT; AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM WATER TO DRINK; FOR YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD, AND THE LORD WILL REWARD YOU.
POINTS TO PONDER:
JESUS WENT TO JERUSALEM TO CELEBRATE THE JEWISH PASSOVER. UPON ARRIVAL, HE ENTERED INTO THE TEMPLE COURTS AND DISCOVERED PEOPLE SELLING CATTLE, SHEEP, DOVES AND PERFORMING MONEY EXCHANGE. THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THOSE WHO TRAVELED LONG DISTANCES TO CELEBRATE THE PASSOVER. HE BECAME ANGRY, DROVE OUT THOSE WHO WERE BUYING AND SELLING AND OVERTURNED TABLES AND BENCHES. MONEY FLEW IN EVERY DIRECTION. HE DECLARED THEY MADE THE TEMPLE A DEN OF ROBBERS. THIS IS THE POSITIVE SIDE OF RIGHTEOUS ANGER. HE VINDICATED THE TEMPLE BY CALLING IT “MY HOUSE”. REF: JOHN 2:13-15 AND MATTHEW 21: 12-13
THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF ANGER IS THOSE WHO USE YOU. MATTHEW 5: 43-48 REFLECTS WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT ANGER. THOSE WHO START FOOLISH FIGHTS CAUSE DISCORD ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE CONTINUALLY. A SOFT WORD IS ONE WAY TO OVERCOME EVIL WITH SOMETHING GOOD.
APPLICATION:
RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL SECURES A BLESSING FROM GOD. IT CAN CONVICT THE WRONGDOER OF HIS WAYS IN A GENTLE MANNER. IF THE WRONGDOER IS NOT CONVICTED, HE HEAPS COALS OF FIRE UPON HIMSELF!
