Overlook
I think we are all a little angrier lately. It is hard to not look around the world and see or even experience the escalation of hot-headed temperaments. Here are some statistics from the last 10 years. In a 2019 survey by AAA, nearly 80 percent of drivers in a 2019 survey had shown significant aggression while driving at least once in the previous 30 days, according to a similar AAA survey. What used to be considered common courtesy on the roads has become a Mad Max free-for-all. Daily videos showcase drivers’ absurdity and reckless natures and habits on every social media site. I’m sure you have felt the rise in anger and aggression in your daily interactions, whether driving or shopping at a grocery store. It is frightening to think about what will happen to us in five years.
Anger is not a new issue for humanity. It is something that God has given to us for us to notice injustice and deal with it appropriately. “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26). As Paul writes to the church in Ephesus, he doesn’t give them the command to never be angry. God was angry with Israel many times (Num 32:13), and Jesus’s anger was justified in the temple (Matthew 21:12). However, anger in these circumstances was righteous and justified. They both also produced actions that corrected the situation without sinning.
However, today I want to look at two truths displayed in the book of Proverbs. First, it should caution us on how we interact with the world and our course of action with those we encounter.
Proverbs 29:22 “An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.”
Detailed in this verse is something we are all aware of, that an angry person is looking for a fight. They are prone to get into a fight, but they enjoy stirring up the conflict. This is not the kind of anger that has subsided with the setting of the sun. This is an anger that is constantly brewing under the surface. It is not producing any kind of solution, just rage, and malice toward others. This is what I believe we are seeing on the faces and hearts of those around us. This hot temper is looking for trouble that is the cause and root of sin in these people’s lives. We may often think that our anger is not hurting anyone, but it is simmering below the surface, and it is waiting to be unleashed if not confronted or dealt with properly.
Proverbs also gives us good insight on this topic.
Proverbs 19:11 “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
We have to be willing to either let our anger go or find a beneficial way to handle it without turning to a sinful state like hatred or malice. The solution to letting it go is to have “good sense” or understanding. This helps us separate actual injustices and minor inconveniences. It is to our benefit if we choose to overlook these offenses. It is easy to want to retaliate or lash out in frustration. However, the better solution is to address it with understanding. Someone cutting me off in traffic is a minor inconvenience. Human trafficking is a significant injustice. I should be angry at the injustice and let the little stuff go. Keep in mind that if we are angry at something that is truly an injustice, our anger should be channeled to promote action and correct the situation in a godly manner.
This contrasts with someone who wants to follow God’s will and someone who doesn’t. Someone who does not want to place God as the center of their life will want to look for fights and is seeking a way to stir up conflict. However, a Christian will overlook the minor offenses and use their energy for issues that need to be addressed. And may we all pray for wisdom to know the difference and overlook the small stuff.