“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” ((James 1:19-20))

Have you noticed that there are a lot of angry people around us? Just look at the frontage of any newspaper today. People are angry about finances, government, jobs, loss of rights, unfairness and at other people and their actions. As I view all this and compare what I observe to Scripture, I am convinced that most human anger is sinful. In our text above, James wrote that human wrath (boiling rage or fury) does not bring about the righteousness of God. During my lifetime, I have noticed several characteristics shared by angry people:

1. 1. Angry people don’t care who they hurt. It may be strangers, family or friends, once the anger starts, no one is safe.
2. 2. Angry people don’t listen to the Word of God. (Note the beginning of our text above) It seems that once a person gets angry, the Word of God gets blocked. Many times there is an active resistance to preaching and to biblical counseling.
3. 3. Angry people are basically selfish in motivation. Their anger is rooted in self-pride.
4. 4. Angry people very seldom are “wrong.” Why else would they be angry?
5. 5. Angry people tend to gather other angry people around themselves. Note the following in Proverbs, “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.” ((Proverbs 22:24-25)) Angry people tend to attract other angry people. A pack mentality often results.
6. 6. Angry people are influenced by the devil. Paul wrote these words, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” ((Eh 4:26-27)) If a person does not deal biblically with his anger, he allows the devil to have a toe hold in his life.  …(to be continued)