The Cost of Misplaced Anger

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES Building My Life on Values That Last

The Cost of Misplaced Anger By Rick Warren — Nov 27, 2015 “A hot-tempered man … gets into all kinds of trouble.” (Proverbs 29:22 TLB) Anger has a price tag. When you realize that truth, you’re more likely to control the anger in your life. The Bible tells us, “A hot-tempered man … gets into all kinds of trouble” (Proverbs 29:22 TLB). Most of us have seen someone do something really stupid because that person was angry. The Bible is very specific on the cost of anger. The Bible says: It causes arguments (Proverbs 15:18). It causes mistakes (Proverbs 14:29). It causes foolish things (Proverbs 14:17). You’ve probably seen all of these results from your own anger and the anger of others. The Bible is also clear on the ultimate conclusion of our inappropriately expressed anger. Proverbs 11:29 says, “The fool who provokes his family to anger and resentment will finally have nothing worthwhile left.” Think of the impact anger has on your family. As parents, we’re often tempted to use anger to motivate our children. It works in the short-term. When you get angry, you put the fear of God (or the fear of you) into your children. Your kids may give you short-term obedience, but you’ll lose in the long-term. The end result of misplaced anger is alienation. You alienate the very people you love the most. Eventually, you’ll get more anger back and finally just apathy. No one wants to be around you. The truth is, you always lose when you lose your temper. You may lose your reputation, your job, your children, or the love of your husband or wife when you don’t control your anger. And it’s never worth that price tag. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick>> Talk It Over What are some examples of people you’ve seen become alienated from others because of their anger? If you’ve sometimes exhibited misplaced anger, what were the costs in your life? What is a practical way you can deal with your anger so that it does not cause pain for you or the people around you? Today’s Scripture “...set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favor) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:13, AMP) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Set Your Hope When we set our hope on God, we set our lives in the right direction. One translation of this verse says, “Look forward to more and more of God’s favor.” God wants to pour out His goodness and grace on you. He wants to help you get ahead in this life. He wants to lead you to the right job. He wants to lead you to the right relationship. But here’s the key: we have to be on the lookout for more of God’s favor. That tells me that we can’t get stagnant. Today, meditate on the truth that God wants to do more than you can even ask or think. It says in Ephesians that He wants to show us the immeasurable, limitless, surpassing greatness of His free favor. In other words, God wants to go far and above what we’re used to! He wants to show you favor in unusual and extraordinary ways. Set your hopes higher today and increase your expectations of what God will do in your life! A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for Your increase in every area of my life today. I choose to set my hope in You knowing that You want to do more in my life than I can ever imagine. Teach me to be a vessel used by You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”