Colossians 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
I would find it difficult to believe that I’m the only one to notice the trending anger and discouragement being expressed throughout the world. In North America, we can agree that many citizens have access to multiple creature comforts and appliances that do most of the hard work to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. These same people also have a steady and ready supply of food to eat at will. So the question arises. Why are these people some of the most discouraged, angry, lonely, and selfish souls on the planet? What have the nations with so much been buying into that keeps distracting them from expressing gratitude for what they do have?
How have we bought into a constant state of anger and discouragement so easily? Psalm 69:3 I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me. Maybe the problem is – what has become the god you have been crying to, and waiting for help from? Have you put the security of your future into the hands of political parties, company CEOs, or medical pharmaceutical conglomerates? Some of these faceless organizations that are causing many of the problems in the world have no wisdom as to how to fix their mess, and the result is people remain in a state of angry existence because they trusted fully in them. The moment we put all of our trust in the ability of man, we are going to suffer great loss. Jer. 17:5 This is what the LORD says: Cursed is the person who trusts in mankind. He makes human flesh his strength, and his heart turns from the LORD.
Have you ever listened to a politician dish up a word salad of the same old meretricious monologue and had no idea of what they were talking about? Somehow you bought into the anger they were selling and now have a soul full of angry thoughts toward a certain people group you had not noticed until you were given permission to be angry at them. All this turmoil churned up within people’s hearts destroying their peace. We see it over and over again when political candidates use Christian buzzwords of righteousness to garner votes so they can get into power and then lead everyone to hell. Then the poor voters stand back in full agitated anger wondering how these circumstances happened right under their noses.
The word says that fathers are not to provoke children to anger less the children become discouraged. Col. 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Some of our civic fathers and leaders have provoked anger within people’s hearts to the point that these people are losing sleep. Eph. 4:26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry. Whether by accident or design, some of the leading fathers of our land and country have led many citizens into a discouragement that can be felt. A sense of hopelessness is prevailing causing a large part of the population to be angry at someone or something all the time.
How do we escape from the influence of this strategic and manipulative corruption being instigated? The first thing everyone needs to do is stop selling anger as a commodity and a solution that gets things done in solving all problems. This advice is toxic. No wonder God asks us to pray for our leaders. 1Tim. 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. You will notice that God does not say to pray for them only if you voted for them. He asks us to pray for our leaders and statesmen because they are dealing with monumental arrogance on all sides of the political aisle. They need God’s help whether they admit it or not. The reward for our faithfulness in obeying God when we pray for them, and one another is that we will live peaceful lives, which is a good start to getting rid of the anger that has built up in our souls.
When I approach God with these concerns, the Lord points out that I should become thankful, and offer words of thanksgiving as a cure that counteracts all the things that anger me. 1Thes. 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. All kinds of circumstances could cause rage to fulminate within me all day long if I let it. Let’s face it, people are a special kind of stupid and there is no end of things we could be angry at. The solution God is offering me so that I can get out of anger’s grasp is to take a moment and start offering thanks for the things I should be grateful for, then the anger will begin to defuse and eventually all the hot air that was in that anger and discouragement will eventually end up flat. This also gives love a chance to make its way into my heart. The more I focus on gratefulness the fewer things I have time to be angry about.
I know this is too simple for those who will fight for their right to be angry. It will be seen as too ridiculous, but how can we fix every terrible situation on Earth? We can only deal with our own issues and our own capacity to live in peace and isn’t that what everyone is looking for, a general state of peacefulness? We need to get off the bandwagon of those who are selling anger as the solution to the world’s problems. If anger was a solution, then Jesus would have said ” My anger I give unto you.” No saints. Jesus said, My peace, I give unto you!” John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid. May the anger and discouragement fall off as we lift the name of our God in thanksgiving. Blessings be upon us all.
Thanks, Norm, this piece was thought provoking like always. I admit I have lost some of my peace; because I believe some ideas are just bad, and we’re at a point where we need to actively push back against them.
When you never correct bad ideas, you have a bunch of kids running around not knowing if they’re boys or girls (or cats), you have preachers preaching that the divinity of Christ is up for grabs, you have denominations splitting over what used to be foundational truths, you have more people and children in slavery then ever in history, and that’s just scratching the surface.
Is it our duty to pat people on the head and make them feel better about having bad ideas, or rather our duty to correct ideas, so that society as a whole may flourish? Yes, prayers have to be the first step, but do we not hope that God will use his people to fight injustice? Do we have any responsibility to express righteous anger? Like many things in his Kingdom, this too seems to be paradoxical. luv ya
Hi Larry
I think we can get messed up by focusing on the mess rather than focusing on the One who can clean up the mess. We don’t see many accounts of Jesus arguing with the government about the problems of the day that the Romans had caused. Is Jesus down at city hall protesting the use of crucifixion because it is cruel and unusual punishment (and it was)? Or did Jesus, the apostles or Paul protest the slave practices that were ingrained in society as you point out – this evil is still with us. Jesus did not defend the Gospel, He declared it. I think that is where we have fallen off track. Yes, get involved in our community and point out the injustices but like Jesus and the Apostles, they went out and destroyed the works of the enemy (the one responsible for all the evil) by healing the sick, casting out devils, and restoring the lost souls of mankind through the word of salvation in Christ. I agree with you that you are to speak up or out where you can, but put the holy energy you have into the Word of God that will NOT come back void. Keep your heart and mind strong in Him who loves you. I pray a blessing of great power over you Larry, that God expand the capacity of your heart to be able to deal with what is causing you to hurt. Peace be upon you and your calling which I know is a huge burden. Love you bro.
In the in which we live it is so good to experience the peace that Jesus gives and the world cannot take away!
This is perfection. I pray this is shared and read everywhere. We all need this kind of healing. Thank you!!