All The Rage

Fools have no interest in understanding;
    they only want to air their own opinions.

Proverbs 18:2

 

 Have you noticed how many people are spouting their opinions on all sort of matters lately?  Suddenly, we have athletes spreading their political opinions.  We have so-called celebrities doing the same thing.  And guess what?  There are those who buy into these opinions without ever attempting to think for themselves.  

All this noise, yet no real knowledge being presented that anyone will listen to.  Why are we like that?  All this shouting and no one is listening to reason.  All this shouting and no discourse.  And apparently, all this shouting is all the rage now.  The Ragers rage, the thinkers think, never the twain shall meet, because everyone is convinced their opinions are the only truth.

But is this what God has instructed us to do?  Scripture reminds us that we are to be  QUICK to listen, SLOW to speak, and SLOWER to start raging.  Yet, how often to we see that actually happening?  

Think about this: If we TRULY believe that we should treat others as we want to be treated, wouldn't we want to have a discussion instead of a shouting match?

 

Anger.....Not Always A Good Thing!

Commit everything you do to the Lord.
    Trust him, and he will help you.
⁶ He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
    and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

⁷ Be still in the presence of the Lord,
    and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
    or fret about their wicked schemes.

⁸ Stop being angry!
    Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
    it only leads to harm.

Psalm 37:5-8

I have a confession to make...I have anger issues.  No, not the kind where I will end up in a slasher movie.  But I tend to let things get under my skin and eventually they reach the point where I can't take anymore and the explosion is resounding......and my anger explosion gets me in more trouble than if I had just kept my mouth shut.  

There have been many times when I wondered what could God possibly be thinking!  I tried to follow the rules, color between the lines, keep to the Standard Operating Procedure, yet someone else always managed to step in and get recognized or given the credit or didn't get punished or even flourished.  And I got angry!  Guess what my anger got me?  

It's amazing how many times Scripture reminds us to "Be Still" and "Don't Worry" yet we can't seem to follow those simple instructions.  When I am thinking about something and concentrating, I am either walking or pacing (depending on how much room I have).  If I find something disconcerting, I have the tendency to worry.  And guess what all my worrying helps?  

God is the one in control!  All our worrying; all of our anger; all of our discontent; all of our rage; all of our impatience does not negate the truth that God is in control!  We have to learn (yes I am talking to myself) to go through our lives remembering that God loves us; is in control of all things; and everything He does has a purpose that we may never see.  

I pray, even now, that God would teach us to be still and know Him!