“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry (Ephesians 4:26)
Today, explosive outbursts of anger are often viewed as no big thing. In fact, sometimes it seems to elevate people to a kind of celebrity status, for example, a coach exploding at the umpire or referee. Some even see this as a technique for motivating the team. However, this technique won’t work in marriage and family. Quite the opposite. Outbursts of anger in this context are hurtful and destructive — sometimes permanently. Let’s be honest. We’ve all been there.
This verse tells us two important things. First, recognize that anger leading to sin is wrong. We should not let our anger cause us to hurt our spouse or children — physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. One caution: in the military, the work environment can be tough. Treating family members like ‘one of the troops’ doesn’t effectively resolve conflicts at home. Secondly, the Lord tells us to deal with anger quickly, before it mushrooms and gets out of control. Ask God to help. Your family is a gift He has given to you.
