Daily Devotional For Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Good morning Southside! I thought we would look at some Proverbs this morning from God’s Word on the topic of anger. Everyone gets angry but handles their anger in different ways. Some are like a volcano when they get angry. They explode and everyone is running for cover from their hot emotional and sometimes even physical “lava.” Some repress their anger out of fear of either losing control or not wanting to hurt someone’s feelings if their anger escalates. Some get destructive. Some go occupy themselves. Some get depressed. Look at the following Proverbs below:
- Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses” (NLT).
- Proverbs 14:29, “People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness” (NLT).
- Proverbs 16:32, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city” (NASB).
- Proverbs 19:11, A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression” (NASB).
- Proverbs 29:22, “An angry person causes arguments, and someone who is quick-tempered is guilty of many sins” (ERV).
All of us feel anger and not all anger is wrong. In fact, the more we grow in our relationship and maturity with Christ the more anger we should feel over evil and sin in this world. We all need some “holy” anger today. The problem we all face is which anger is good and which is not. When do we express it and when should we not express it?
In Proverbs 10:12 above, the word “quarrels” is the Hebrew word [מָדוֹן, modonim]. This word carries the idea of opinions. Old Testament scholars Kent Huges and Raymond Orlund explain it this way:
“It’s when someone walks up and demands of you, “So what do you think about ?”—as if you are expected to have a strong opinion. But wisdom is not intimidated by that approach. Wisdom asks, “Why should I feel intensely about that issue? Moreover, why does anybody need my opinion? Why are we even talking about this? Is this issue the gospel?” Twitter and blogs and emails would be cleared of much conflict if we humbled our opinions before Christ. What are we here for, really? What does God want to be stirred up in our hearts? He says, stir one another up to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24) – (Source: Kent Hughes & Raymond Ortlund, Preaching The Word, “Proverbs—Wisdom that Works,” p. 161).
Even if we are angry for the right or good reason, Proverbs 19:11 reminds us that it is glory to overlook an offense. Not everything we think or feel when angry has to be or should be expressed. We are to have a higher standard than getting even, or nagging someone with our constant opinions or causing those around us to feel they have to walk on “egg shells” when they are around us.
Proverbs 19:11 uses the word “glory.” There are many different Hebrew words for “glory.” This is the Hebrew word [וְ֝תִפאַרְתּ֗וֹ, wetiferet]. It means “beauty.” This word is used to describe beautiful clothing (Isaiah 52:1), beautiful jewels (Ezekiel 16:17), a beautiful city (Isaiah 28:1), and the beauty of God himself (1 Chronicles 29:11). He makes beautiful people who know how to ignore a slight difference of opinion. These people judge themselves instead of others.
Meaning, there is a beauty in someone who holds their tongue at times. Why? Anger is an emotion that judges others and there is a lot of wrong in the world to judge. But wisdom brings this judging emotion under control by judging it. According to Proverbs 14:29 above, fools unleash without filtering their anger. And when they do not filter, they exalt their foolishness for everyone to see.
When we control our anger, the wise person controls their anger with the Fruit of the Spirit called “self-control” that embarrasses conquerors. Look at Proverbs 16:32 above. Conquering a city is nothing in comparison to conquering the anger inside of us. Conquering a city is a one day battle; conquering the anger inside of us is a lifetime struggle. In Matthew 23:13-36, Jesus lists 8 woes and in Matthew 23:24, Jesus stresses the hypocrisy of becoming obsessed with minor details while ignoring the major sins in one’s own life.
If we really believe that Jesus Christ is going to return to right every wrong then there is no need for us to be expressing our anger or angry opinions to or about everyone. Jesus is the Judge and He has more than enough wrath this world needs. In Matthew 5:22a, Jesus said this, “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of judgment” (NKJV).
Notice the phrase “without a cause.” What “cause” does Jesus have in mind here? – sin. Our anger needs a biblical basis to be justified. If it is just a matter of personal opinion, then we need to be very careful. In Matthew 5:21, Jesus brings up the topic of murder within the context of anger. Our anger can cause us to commit murder in our hearts. If more people were more angry over their own sin and were judging their own sin rather than others’, our world would be a more beautiful place to live.
Reflection Assignment: When it comes to your anger, do you always have a biblical basis to justify it or is some of your anger coming from your personal opinion? Is your anger more directed against yourself and your sin or is it consistently pointing fingers at others? If your anger is out-of-control, confess it. If your anger is directed more at others, ask the Lord to help you see your own sin first. If your anger is unjustified, then find justifiable ways to express against the sin and evil in this world. If you feel totally controlled by your anger, then seek a godly, biblical, Christian counselor to help you with this.
Scripture To Meditate On: Ephesians 4:26-27, “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, (27) and do not give the devil an opportunity” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Lord, help me with my anger. Help me to live out that line from Kenny Rogers song, The Gambler, “You’ve got to know when to hold them. You’ve got to know when to fold them and you’ve got to know when to walk away.” Lord, show me ways to express my anger against the evil and sin in this world. Help me to focus on my own sin first. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly