Proverbs 29: Anger Danger

Does Solomon have anything wise to impart about anger?

Of course, you know the answer must be yes!  Struggles against anger and losing one's temper have been part of the human package since prehistory.  (Just ask Cain.)  It is no surprise that the danger of anger was a live issue even back around 1000 BC.

Here are some of this chapter's proverbs about rage and anger:

• "Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath" (vs. 8).

• "A fool gives full vent to anger, but the wise quietly holds it back" (vs. 11)

• "One given to anger stirs up strife, and the hothead causes much transgression" (vs. 22).

Does this mean that anger is intrinsically evil or wrong?  I don't believe so.  Anger is one of the emotions God gave us, which means that there is a proper time and a place for it.  For instance, Jesus' righteous indignation in cleansing the temple of money-changers shows us that it is possible to show anger and not sin.  As Paul writes to the Ephesians, "Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger" (Ephesians 4:26).

Solomon appears to have in mind the case when our emotions get out of control, we "lose our temper" and blow up.  Then we do things we will surely regret later.  We must keep our anger in check rather than giving "full vent to anger" (vs. 11).

So, be cautious about anger.  It's permissible to experience that all-too-human emotion, but make sure that you control it rather than letting it control you.