Controlling your Temper
Many people struggle with a quick or fiery temper. Although society often encourages people to express themselves and not hold back, God’s Word teaches that giving in to one’s temper is a sin. The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of controlling one’s temper. It calls a person who easily loses his temper a “fool”. As children of God, we are called to love others (John 13:35; Ephesians 4:2, 31-32) and to be at peace (James 1:19; James 3:17-18).
In Proverbs, 14: 17, 29, we study – A quick-tempered person does stupid things, but it is also true that people don’t like anyone who quietly plans evil. Those who control their anger have great understanding; those with a hasty temper will make mistakes. (15:18) The Lord hates the offerings of the wicked, but he is happy to hear the prayers of those who live right. (19:11) Experience makes you more patient, and you are most patient when you ignore insults. (29:22) an angry person causes arguments, and someone who is quick-tempered is guilty of many sins.
With the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will show the fruit of His work inside us. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) these are essential to controlling the tendency to lose our temper. We may often feel justified in losing our temper, particularly when someone has hurt or offended us. But we are instructed to forgive (Matthew 5:44; 6:12; 18:21–22), not yield to anger or seek vengeance.
It’s important to note that anger is a valid emotion and is not always sinful. God allows for “righteous anger,” which is anger with the proper focus, the proper motivation, the proper control, the proper duration, and the proper result. Our problem is that our temper is often motivated by selfishness and directed toward other people instead of toward sin. That’s why God tells us to “let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) . . . be banished from you” (Ephesians 4:31).
In general terms… Walking away from a triggering situation can be an excellent way to take control of your anger. When a conversation gets heated, take a break.
