Angry? Is it worth it?

Pro 16:32 - Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.

If you have had a career in the military, you will certainly agree that anger, impatience and revenge are celebrated virtues. These are the expected qualities of a leader in battle. You can't be a weakling and be in the forefront of battle. There is no room for soft words, kindness of patience in the battle field.

I remember when I was a recruit during my national service days, the trainers showed no sympathy for the softies. Every sentence was punctuated with a swear or curse word. If you want to survive in a war, you need to have these "negative" qualities. That was how we were trained

 But the Bible looks at these virtues differently. The above verse declares the man that is mighty is not one who infuriates with anger and impatience but rather one who keeps them in check. Such a person is even mightier than one who conquers a city.

Its normally easy to submit to an accusation that is true (some can't even handle that). But the real challenge comes when you are faced with an unjust accusation. Obviously the natural propensity to retaliate, fight back, justify and when all else fails, seek legal redress.The probable outcome would be, you may have won the case but certainly  lost your character.

Look at what anger does:

• Anger resides in the lap of fools - Ecc 7:9
• Anger does not bring about the righteous life - James 1:20
• A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, - Pro 15:18
• A quick-tempered man displays folly - Pro 14:29
• It leads to evil - Psalms 37:8-9
• A fool gives full vent to his anger - Pro 29:11
• An angry man stirs up strife - Pro 29:22

Impatience and anger loses self control, loosens the tongue to abusive and harsh words, shows no respect, makes you say things you don't mean, drives everyone away and achieves nothing but loss.

There is no better example other than our Lord Jesus Christ who showed the right way to respond to such accusations:

• Luke 23:34 - Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

Another great example is Steven in the book of Acts:

• Acts 7:60 - Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.

That is how a man full of the Holy Spirit reacts when faced with such accusations. I wonder how many of us can cross that bar. 

But we have hope. When we are full of the Holy Spurt, we bear the fruit, which is love , joy, peace patience....

Another consolation is found in Matthew 7:11-12 - Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The ability to exercise restraint in the face of unjust accusations and continue to persevere in His objectives, is not an act of cowardice or timidity but rather the traits of a spiritual General.