When feeling angry, bitter or worse

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (Eph. 4:31 ESV

In your anger, do not sin

Everyone becomes angry now and then, and that’s okay, because all anger isn’t bad. For instance, Jesus became angry with the money lenders at the temple. But anger should never be allowed to grow out of control. Otherwise, it may evolve into something much worse, cause you to sin and even become destructive in your behavior. The Bible says “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” (Eph. 4:26 ESV). The passage at top warns of 6 things to put away from you: Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice. When you define them, you can see clearly why you should always be on guard against them. 

Bitterness: Sharp, or acrid, in either a literal or figurative sense; implacableness; resentfulness; severity; keenness of reproach or sarcasm; deep distress, grief, or vexation of mind. A state of extreme impiety or enmity to God.

Wrath: Strong vengeful, or fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation; ire. 

Anger: A strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong. 

Clamor: Vehement expression of discontent or protest; to make a loud sustained noise or outcry.

Slander: Oral communication of false and malicious statements that damage the reputation of another.

Malice: A desire to harm others or to see others suffer; extreme ill will or spite. 

Watch out! Bitterness can make you captive to sin

“For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."” (Acts 8:23 NIV)

Don’t allow a root of bitterness to spring up

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” (Heb. 12:14-15 ESV)

Don’t jump to anger

“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.” (Eccles. 7:9 ESV)

Be quick to listen and slow to anger

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20 ESV)

Therefore…

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV)

Quotes:

“Do not say, "I cannot help having a bad temper." Friend, you must help it. Pray to God to help you overcome it at once, for either you must kill it, or it will kill you. You cannot carry a bad temper into heaven.”  - Charles Spurgeon

“To be angry about trifles is mean and childish; to rage and be furious is brutish; and to maintain perpetual wrath is akin to the practice and temper of devils; but to prevent and suppress rising resentment is wise and glorious, is manly and divine.” - Isaac Watts