Get ready to start a journey…a journey through the pages of the Bible and the pages of your life.
An angry man is not a person who gets angry—all of us get angry—but he is controlled by anger. You know the type. He is always railing about something—the government, the educational system, his business partner, his neighbor, how someone treated him at a certain restaurant, and on and on and on….
Let’s face it—we all get angry. When I get cut off by another driver, I’m sorry, but I don’t feel like praying for them. When someone does something to hurt my family, I am ready to take them on. When I hear, “Your call is important to us. Stay on the line. The next available representative will be with you shortly,” I do not enjoy the music while I’m waiting. I could go on and on and on….
Our passage today provides the spiritual road rules regarding anger. Here it is.
I have never seen a child who could get so angry so fast. If Thomas felt slighted in the least, his body would stiffen, his nostrils would flare, his eyes would glaze over, and in a matter of seconds, somebody would be at the wrong end of his fist! Only a few days into the beginning of the school year, in my first teaching job, I returned to my classroom from a break to find Thomas going after another student because of words exchanged during lunch. I realized then that Thomas’ temper was going to be a challenge. When he went into his “anger mode,” it took everything I had to “talk him down.” Thomas and all those who hung around him had reserved seats in the principal’s office.
Churning. Twisting. Stirring. The friction of one object on another produces something. Sometimes, the product is good. I like butter. Sometimes the product is not so good. I have never enjoyed my nose being bloodied. And then there is the inevitable product of anger. That’s never pretty.
Okay, here’s what I need you to do. Ready? Clench your teeth. Got it? Now, flare your nostrils. Good. Hold it there…you are making the expression of anger. “Aph” is the Hebrew word we translate with the English word “angry.” Aph means “nostril” or “nose” or, in some cases, refers to the whole “face.” In Hebrew, your anger was visibly demonstrated…flared nostrils, clinched teeth, heavy breathing, inaudible sounds…. Okay, thanks for working with me. You can unclench your teeth.
After my second year of seminary, Lori and I spent a summer in northern Scotland, interning at a church just outside of Aberdeen. We spent our weekly day off driving around the countryside in a little Mini (this was before Minis were cool). Many of those trips included checking out a castle or two.
Ever watch those shows about the lifestyles of the rich and famous? Their lives drip with money, cars, big homes, pools, and full-size gyms. I admit there are days when all that looks very appealing. A few days ago, I was vegging out watching a program about a couple shopping for a vacation home on a beautiful tropical island. The storyline follows them through the process of choosing between three houses. There are days when I would love to take a private jet and fly down to a vacation home on a beautiful tropical island.
In my growing-up years, I dreamed of playing professional baseball. But after my first year of competing at a college level, I came to a solemn realization that my prospects were not that great. There are certain “tools” you need in order to play at the next level. Hitting, throwing, running, and fielding must be at a high level. I took note of my speed, batting average, and arm strength and realized “below average” does not equal “advanced level.” But I must tell you, and I’m not bragging, my prospect as a Christian is secure.
Steve McNair was killed…by his lover. She shot the former All-Pro quarterback, husband, and father of four, four times. Then, she ended her life as well. What a sad story! What a reminder of Scripture’s relevant truth: A life of duplicity leads to destruction (Proverbs 11:3). But a life of wisdom…well, here’s what today’s proverb says.
All I can say is—it hurt. The words came out direct and sharp, hitting the intended target. I laughed it off and pretended the comment didn’t matter, but I was bleeding inside. Those words have been ringing in my head for over twenty years. I have talked to the individual. He barely remembers saying anything. He apologized. I need to get over it. But it is amazing how Satan has used that little episode in my life.
Do you ever wonder if anything you do makes an impact? I do. In fact, I was feeling that way not long ago. I wasn’t thinking of throwing in the towel or being emotionally distraught, but I was in a funk of discouragement. And that’s when God sent a “messenger” with a “word in season.”
A platonic peck on the cheek from your aunts is one thing; a kiss on the lips is quite another. It is reserved for the one you love. It communicates a deep affection. A kiss on the lips is delivered by your heart. So is an honest answer.