"LOVE IS NOT EASILY ANGERED; IT KEEPS
NO RECORD OF WRONGS"

The wording here is important for we are told that love is not easily angered: we are not instructed never to be angry. This fact is comforting because many things have the power to aggravate us to the point of anger. Often our anger is borne out of our love for others, for example, if a son or daughter is heading for disaster in their personal lives we get annoyed because we want the best for them. if we hear the Lord's name being used as a swear word, or people decry Him, we are likely to rise to angry reaction. It seems that when principles are at stake we are at our most vulnerable and angry words may spill out before we know it. The question is: is it permissible to show anger in such circumstances or should we count to ten and keep quiet?

Well, let us consider the time when Jesus was angry with the livestock dealers and, money changers who were greedily doing business in the synagogue. He was so enraged at them that He overturned their tables saying, "How dare you turn my Father's house into a market. (John 2.16). In this instance a principle was at stake; the synagogue was being defiled. Although we are not told, we may surmise that His anger was a controlled anger. Instead of stalking off in a rage, He went on to speak about His death and resurrection which was for their sakes: He may have been angry with their behaviour, but His love for them was not diminished in any way. We too must, "not let the sun go down while we are still angry", so as not to give the devil a foothold (I. Ephesians 426). Yes, there are times when it is indeed permissible for us to be angry but we must never lose control over this powerful emotion.

But what of other lesser occasions in our lives when anger rises to the surface? Should we be angry in response to others being angry with us? Is it right to flare up in frustration when others do not understand us? What if we are predisposed to quick temper and cannot help it? God's word is clear, we must not become easily angered and surely we know in our heart of hearts when we are justified and when we are not.

Anger breeds anger, and so if anger is a particular problem for us it is to our advantage to bring to mind the following verse whenever we are tempted. "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15: 1).

And, of course, 'Love keeps no record of wrongs', in other words we are encouraged to 'forgive and forget'. Managing the work of forgiveness is one thing, but to forget the deed and our own self-righteousness about forgiving, well, that's another story. Second to talking about our aches and pains, we love to tell others about how we have been wronged, but God's word is clear, we must keep no record at all. Some people find the 'healing of memories' a difficult concept to grasp, but for others it is a bright reality. Dear sceptic, please believe that it is never beyond the Lord's power to erase unhelpful memories from our minds if we earnestly ask Him. just as He is willing to forgive our sins and to cast them out of His mind, He asks us to do the same with other people, and He is fully equipped to help us to do just that. Remember, it is unhealthy to hold on to grudges and doing so will destroy our joy and undoubtedly hinder our walk with the Lord.