(Editor’s Note: This column is written by a different Littlefield pastor for the Leader-News each week. The columns are published on this page on Wednesdays.)
I start this article advising for us not to use excuses to justify our bad character in case we have it. Saying “I inherited from my grandfather or I have been like this since I was small.”
You and I were born with a personality given by God and this makes us different from one another and it does not offend God.
Our character is being formed and it is a lifetime challenge whether for good or bad. Getting angry does not reflect a wrong attitude in itself.
On one occasion when Jesus went to the temple and found out it was being used for business gain, He got angry.
The apostle John tells us in 2:15 “So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” Of course this was correct just as you and I get angry when wrong things are done. It all depends on whether our character has been educated and controlled.
Ephesians 4:26 says it very clearly and I hope it truly helps you. “ In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
We all know people that did not study or went to a low grade in school, but are persons that know how to control their character. Also persons that are well educated and have an explosive character. Many years ago I met an administrator from a business and he became so angry that he took off his glasses and broke them.
A word of advice concerning this. Do not give up and if possible get around people that know how to handle this conduct and that at one time they had crises but something made them overcome it. Also we need to be honest with ourselves and place it in the hands of God, but we have to accept and recognize the situation.