The Foundation of Anger
It seems the world is full of anger. Terrorists threaten to kill those who don’t hold similar beliefs. Innocent victims suffer terrible atrocities from the hands of fellow countrymen. Protests and marches are turning into riots against governments. Antagonism between political parties cripples our leaders’ ability to work together—and makes them unable to lead. Even closer to home, road rage is escalating, and news of robbery, abuse, and homicide fills the daily news.
Where does such anger come from? What is its foundation?
James asks that question in James 4:1-3. He says, “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you?” He answers with several points which build on one another.
- “Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
- You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. [or scream and riot]
- And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.
- You do not have because you do not ask.
- You ask and do not receive,
- Because you ask with wrong motives,
- So that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
(Outline format added for emphasis.)
God has not given us the insight, wisdom, or position to judge other people. I’m sure many have a legitimate reason to be angry. But listen to the angry voices around you. Many confirm the words of James. They demand more for their own pleasures—voices of envy, frustrated because they cannot obtain. They fight for what they want so they can spend it on themselves.
Recently, I met some elderly cousins that came to town to see where their ancestors were buried. A genealogist among them said that when the family moved from Switzerland in the 1800s, they had been sold farmland in Kentucky. They came to set up a dairy farm, but they found land filled with rocks, not the rich pastureland promised them.
They arrived too late in the year to build a house, so they lived through the winter in a tent. They survived on cheese they had brought from Switzerland. Without it, they would have starved. Records are lost. We don’t know the whole story, but they settled and farmed greener pastures in a nearby county. Through affliction and hard work, they built a successful future.
Many people today suffer because they’ve been wronged or are in need. In hard times, frustration grows and easily turns to anger. However, I can’t help but wonder if the loudest voices we hear are the voices of those who are looking to others to fill their pleasures. If they were willing to sacrifice and suffer to see their dreams come true, would they have as much energy to fight and quarrel?
Do we dare go a step further? What about me? When I fight and quarrel, am I trying to get others to fulfill my desires? Is it my pleasure that I’m really seeking?
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