May 9th, 2021
by Jason Huckabee
by Jason Huckabee
by Paul Cypert
May 9, 2021
Hey, it’s a Sunday morning, and I like it. Can’t wait to see folks.
Paul in the book of Ephesians employs a slogan, ‘Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.’ (Ephesians 4:26 KNT ‘Be angry, but don’t sin’; don’t let the sun go down on you while you’re angry,) and the people of Ephesus would have immediately understood, because it was a well-used saying in their culture.
The first time I heard this was at a marriage retreat. Folks telling people to resolve being upset with their spouse before going to bed. That misunderstanding created some late-night drama for Miss D and I and really all that got accomplished was a loss of sleep and the exacerbation of the issue.
And the truth is, many have suffered under the words of Christian folks who were well meaning but unlearned. Perhaps, that is why James said, those who teach are held to a greater degree of accountability, than those who don’t.
What the Ephesians would have understood from their slogan was this; as soon as possible, even before the sun sets, if possible, get rid of your anger. For sure, don’t let anger be something that tarries, lingers or continues in your life and for certain, don’t let it travel from one season of your life to another.
Meaning: what fired you up as child, teenager, young adult, mature adult or an old person, don’t let it continue!
As soon as possible, get rid of it.
We Texans have a slogan, ‘Don’t mess with Texas’. As do other cultures, and we understand because of the culture in which we live. But if you’re not from Texas it may be difficult to understand.
Just for fun here’s a few slogans or cultural parables:
Arabian Slogan; ‘Examine what is said, not who speaks’.
English Slogan; ‘In a calm sea every man is a pilot’.
Danish Slogan; ‘Better a friend’s bite than an enemy’s caress’.
Anger is difficult, because anger creates a debt/debtor relationship. Anger says, you owe me, and the temptation is to stay angry because something or someone was taken from you. Like money, respect, childhood, your virginity, hope, a dream, my happiness, a friend, a spouse, my marriage and that list goes on. And until that is paid and that would solely be based upon your perception of right and wrong, the anger remains.
If anger goes unresolved and is allowed to travel through the seasons of your life, eventually, you lose sight as to why you are angry. Anger becomes part of who you are.
Walking through the mall, back when malls were open, I spotted a t-shirt on a person that said, “You’re bugging me”, and I laughed inside because I knew exactly what they meant. ‘I’m angry’.
And I laughed because I knew it wasn’t the bustling, hurried shoppers that were bugging the person.
The bug (anger) came from someone or something long before putting on that t-shirt.
Sorrow, followed the laughter because for that person, losing the t-shirt was not likely.
When it comes to anger and this may be the big take away, I or they really can’t do anything for you.
Why?
Because it’s not my or their problem.
And the truth is, and I know this is not emotionally gratifying, it’s yours.
Yep, it’s your anger.
Anger says, you owe me. Payback, restitution, an apology, what was lost. And it most cases that will not be possible.
Once again Paul’s advice bypasses contemporary thought, ‘let’s talk about it’, and asks to do something that is counterintuitive. He asks that we get rid of it, all of it!
Like a cancer diagnosis, one would not be as interested in how you got it as how you are getting rid of it. Paul’s advice? Get rid of it, because it’s killing you and your relationships. It destroys the ability to be in unity.
Listen to Paul…
Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Listen to Paul…
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (emphasis mine)
A debt is either paid or forgiven. And Paul’s advice is this, forgive the debt and that means I will need to bypass fairness because what happened wasn’t fair.
I get it. The story you would tell me would be justification of why you are angry. I would most likely agree, that it was unfair, but I can’t do anything about it because it’s not my story or anger.
So, with whom or what am I angry?
What was taken from me?
What’s owed to me?
Then, decide to forgive the debt.
I can assure you the emotional charge of that forgiven debt will resurface. The accusation will come back, ‘they owe me’, and when it does, Solomon the wisest man that ever lived gave us great advice:
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is a well spring………of life.
I guard my heart by ‘letting go of the emotional charge’.
That’s my choice, I choose the relevance, importance and the power of every event of my life.
Not the emotion.
The goal is to get rid of the ‘Emotional Charge’!
May 9, 2021
Hey, it’s a Sunday morning, and I like it. Can’t wait to see folks.
Paul in the book of Ephesians employs a slogan, ‘Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.’ (Ephesians 4:26 KNT ‘Be angry, but don’t sin’; don’t let the sun go down on you while you’re angry,) and the people of Ephesus would have immediately understood, because it was a well-used saying in their culture.
The first time I heard this was at a marriage retreat. Folks telling people to resolve being upset with their spouse before going to bed. That misunderstanding created some late-night drama for Miss D and I and really all that got accomplished was a loss of sleep and the exacerbation of the issue.
And the truth is, many have suffered under the words of Christian folks who were well meaning but unlearned. Perhaps, that is why James said, those who teach are held to a greater degree of accountability, than those who don’t.
What the Ephesians would have understood from their slogan was this; as soon as possible, even before the sun sets, if possible, get rid of your anger. For sure, don’t let anger be something that tarries, lingers or continues in your life and for certain, don’t let it travel from one season of your life to another.
Meaning: what fired you up as child, teenager, young adult, mature adult or an old person, don’t let it continue!
As soon as possible, get rid of it.
We Texans have a slogan, ‘Don’t mess with Texas’. As do other cultures, and we understand because of the culture in which we live. But if you’re not from Texas it may be difficult to understand.
Just for fun here’s a few slogans or cultural parables:
Arabian Slogan; ‘Examine what is said, not who speaks’.
English Slogan; ‘In a calm sea every man is a pilot’.
Danish Slogan; ‘Better a friend’s bite than an enemy’s caress’.
Anger is difficult, because anger creates a debt/debtor relationship. Anger says, you owe me, and the temptation is to stay angry because something or someone was taken from you. Like money, respect, childhood, your virginity, hope, a dream, my happiness, a friend, a spouse, my marriage and that list goes on. And until that is paid and that would solely be based upon your perception of right and wrong, the anger remains.
If anger goes unresolved and is allowed to travel through the seasons of your life, eventually, you lose sight as to why you are angry. Anger becomes part of who you are.
Walking through the mall, back when malls were open, I spotted a t-shirt on a person that said, “You’re bugging me”, and I laughed inside because I knew exactly what they meant. ‘I’m angry’.
And I laughed because I knew it wasn’t the bustling, hurried shoppers that were bugging the person.
The bug (anger) came from someone or something long before putting on that t-shirt.
Sorrow, followed the laughter because for that person, losing the t-shirt was not likely.
When it comes to anger and this may be the big take away, I or they really can’t do anything for you.
Why?
Because it’s not my or their problem.
And the truth is, and I know this is not emotionally gratifying, it’s yours.
Yep, it’s your anger.
Anger says, you owe me. Payback, restitution, an apology, what was lost. And it most cases that will not be possible.
Once again Paul’s advice bypasses contemporary thought, ‘let’s talk about it’, and asks to do something that is counterintuitive. He asks that we get rid of it, all of it!
Like a cancer diagnosis, one would not be as interested in how you got it as how you are getting rid of it. Paul’s advice? Get rid of it, because it’s killing you and your relationships. It destroys the ability to be in unity.
Listen to Paul…
Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Listen to Paul…
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (emphasis mine)
A debt is either paid or forgiven. And Paul’s advice is this, forgive the debt and that means I will need to bypass fairness because what happened wasn’t fair.
I get it. The story you would tell me would be justification of why you are angry. I would most likely agree, that it was unfair, but I can’t do anything about it because it’s not my story or anger.
So, with whom or what am I angry?
What was taken from me?
What’s owed to me?
Then, decide to forgive the debt.
I can assure you the emotional charge of that forgiven debt will resurface. The accusation will come back, ‘they owe me’, and when it does, Solomon the wisest man that ever lived gave us great advice:
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is a well spring………of life.
I guard my heart by ‘letting go of the emotional charge’.
That’s my choice, I choose the relevance, importance and the power of every event of my life.
Not the emotion.
The goal is to get rid of the ‘Emotional Charge’!
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