The Bible says, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires” (James 1:19-20 NLT).
As I read this today the words “Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires” really jumped out at me.
Human anger happens when we don’t get our way or when we think people have not considered us or when we haven’t heard something correctly. We can become angry and act out as we did not get our way.
Compare this to righteous anger. Jesus was angry at the corrupt money changers in the Temple. He was not happy that God’s House was turned in to a marketplace, rather than a house of prayer and worship (John 2:13-16).
We then see that Jesus made He a whip. Bible scholars tell us this would have taken several hours, and then He went back and overturned the tables.
Human anger says I am not happy about this. I am going to get my way. I will get you back. You hurt me, I will hurt you.
Righteous anger says I am not happy about this situation and goes to God in prayer. It says, “What should I do God? How can I help this situation?” And then it acts slowly and deliberately at God’s leading.
Remember it is not wrong to get angry at human injustice or suffering. We just need to go to God first and ask how we can respond in accordance with His will and purposes. He may want us to act or He may want us just to pray.
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