One of my favorite SNL skits has Chris Farley eating at a fine dining restaurant. It shows him drinking coffee and at the end of his meal he is let in on a secret. He has been drinking Folder's Crystals coffee rather than high priced coffee. He then goes on a rage and terrorizes the whole place. He is finally subdued by employees that beat him over the head with frying pans. Later, after he had been bandaged up, he was interviewed and asked how he felt. His reply: "ANGRY!"
Our anger can make us do stupid things, say stuff we don't want to say, and ruin the day of those around us. Why is it that we usually take out our anger on those that are closest to us, those that we care the most about, those that care the most about us? Anger.
Proverbs 14:29 says, "Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly."
I want to encourage everyone this week to slow down. Don't be in such a hurry to blast the guy in the car in front of you that simply changed lanes in front of you. This past week, I mentioned that I had to make the conscious decision years ago to drive the speed limit. I had to make up my mind to not get bent out of shape over the way others drive around me. If I didn't make that choice, I knew I was going to be angry every time I got in the car and I was going to ruin everyone else's day that was in the car with me.
I wonder... What was it about the other guys driving that got me so angry? All he did was change lanes. We know that anger is a secondary emotion. What was the primary emotion that led to anger? Did he scare me when he changed lanes? Did he violate my space? Was I scared of him? NO! What was it that led to me getting angry?
I want to throw out the challenge: SLOW DOWN. It just doesn't matter how that other guy is driving. Ask yourself: Why do I get so angry at other drivers?
Friends, let put 1st things 1st when we get angry. Let's take it to the Lord. Ask Him to take those thoughts captive. Claim the verse that tells us to take all of our anxieties to him because he cares for us. Will you believe that God can help you? Will you?
James 1:19 says, "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
SLOW DOWN and take it to God. SLOW DOWN!
