Southside Scoop - 6.9.24

Southside Church of Christ

800 Elmira Avenue Durham, NC 27707

info@sside.org | www.sside.org

919.688.3535

STAFF

Orlander R. Thomas Senior Minister

William A. Stephens Minister Emeritus

Candice P. Blount Church Administrator

Quentella Williams Executive Assistant

John Merriweather Online Campus Minister

Dineen Merriweather Online Campus Director

DEACONS

John Alcox

Anthony Green, Sr.

Arthur Hackney

John Mathis

Chester Mayfield, Jr.

Roger McDougal

Joe Williams

Keith Wright

W E E K L Y W O R D Anger Does What?

By RICKI FULLER

According to a commentary statement about a scriptural verse found in Ecclesiastes, the commentator asserted that “Anger can cause us to act foolishly. The wise woman controls her temper rather than being controlled by it. Undisciplined anger can destroy our lives.” This Scripture reference is found in Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NLT):

“Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool.”

It’s worded as such in the NKJV: “Do not be quick in spirit to be angry or vexed, for anger and vexation lodge in the bosom of fools.”

(Cited from The Women’s Study Bible.)

In another commentator’s article we see the following treatise: “Anger: Act or React – “Anger can most be defined as an emotional response to a perceived wrong or injustice. Hence, anger is normally expressed when a woman misinterprets circumstances, makes a mistake in judgment, or reacts quickly because she feels threatened or hurt. This anger is unjustified and sinful. This anger, in effect, denies the power of God to care for your needs and hurts and can even completely take over your life. … Most often, you should leave your anger or wrath at the feet of Jesus and allow Him to act in your behalf.

Further, the commentator asked a question to the readers, which is an appropriate question for us to ask ourselves: “Do you act or react?”

“The answer to this simple question will most likely reveal any weaknesses you have in expressing the emotion of anger. A person who acts knows who she is, what she believes, and how she should behave (Colossians 3:23, 24). She not only knows this information, but she chooses to act upon it

Another person’s actions do not dictate her reactions, but rather the wisdom of the Lord is her mainstay (Colossians 3:16, 17).”

We, also, find this statement in the latter portion of Matthew 5:22 (MSG): Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.” Perhaps we can better clarify this statement by saying, more precisely, that ‘angry words’ kill. It appears such words kill both people – the one to whom anger is directed and the perpetrator. If not physical death, there is something inside each person that dies. Here in verse 22, we see Jesus’ words warning us about the dangerous, and sure, result of our inconsiderate and careless and emotionally high-strung angry reactive behavior. Dear Lord, thank You for Your lovingkindness toward us even in our times of being disobedient to Your command for us to love You and be kind to each other! We beseech You to guide in resisting the evil one to the point that we do not allow ourselves to react/give-in to anger. Thank You Lord Jesus as You always advocate for us to our Father GOD! Thank You Dear Holy Spirit for Your constant presence in and around us guiding us in, and reminding us of, Father GOD’s will for our lives!