The Symptoms & Solution for Foolish Anger

Introduction

Have you ever found yourself pulled into the middle of a Facebook controversy or argument? Sometimes the vitriol of the keyboard warriors can be vicious. Not long ago someone I know and love was the victim of a hit piece that was full of deceit and outright lies and some of the most cruel suggestions imaginable.

It seems that we live in the “age of outrage.” Someone said that “we have turned the immediate, unfiltered expression of rage into a strange kind of virtue.”

God does not consider foolish anger, no matter how it reveals itself a virtue...it is a symptom of a SPIRITUAL SICKNESS. Before it ever makes it’s way onto social media, or expresses itself in road rage, or screaming or yelling, we can be sure it first began in the heart...

Foolish Anger Begins Inwardly

One of the most well known New Testament verses about anger is found in the book of Ephesians 4:26–27 ““Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.”

Every text has a CONTEXT. In the context of Ephesians 4 Paul had spoken about the fact that because believers are now IN CHRIST that they are to PUT OFF their FORMER CONDUCT of the “OLD MAN” and rather to be “RENEWED” in the spirit of their mind.

As they are to put off the OLD MAN notice what Paul says next:

Ephesians 4:25–32 “Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

He talks about putting away LYING, STEALING, CORRUPT WORDS (toxic speech that corrupts relationships), BITTERNESS (a resentful spirit that refuses reconciliation), WRATH (smoldering revenge), ANGER, CLAMOR (anger expressed in YELLING), EVIL SPEAKING (negative speech that wounds others), MALICE (an evil and spiteful disposition).

Remember what Paul said to do with all these things? He said we are to PUT THEM OFF. This phrase carries with it the idea of taking off TATTERED and WORTHLESS garments! It means to ABANDON, to ONCE AND FOR ALL LEAVE THEM BEHIND!

Notice what Solomon calls those who allow ANGER to REST in them...

Ecclesiastes 7:9 “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.”

He says ANGER RESTS in the bosom of FOOLS!

Notice the word “RESTS.” The word REST conveys the idea of something being “SETTLED” or “LODGED.” In other words anger HAS TAKEN UP PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN ONE’S LIFE.

As a result, anger doesn’t just visit for a short time and get kicked out, but rather BECOMES A PERMANENT FIXTURE IN ONE’S PERSONALITY!

THEIR LIFE HAS BECOME THE GREENHOUSE FOR THE SEEDS OF BITTERNESS TO GROW! The person becomes TRAPPED in the destructive pattern of anger and bitterness because he/she refuses, by God’s help to put off the things that will internally destroy them!

If you and I do not PUT OFF bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice, WE WILL FIND THE SEEDS OF THESE THINGS BEGIN TO MULTIPLY and they will CHOKE out the JOY of the Lord!

No wonder Paul told them not to LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON THEIR WRATH because he knew that when INWARD ANGER is allowed to SIMMER it will eventually BOIL over.

I found this illustration that helps us comprehend this danger...

If you walk into a house and the living room is spotless, you assume the house is clean. But if you walk down into the dark sub-basement and find stacks of old, rotting newspapers, oily rags, and chemical fumes, you realize the house is a fire hazard waiting to happen.

Many of us treat our hearts like that house. Outwardly, we smile, we nod, and we use polite words. But down in the sub-basement of our inner being, we are hoarding old offenses. We replay old arguments. We nurse injuries from five years ago. We think the sub-basement is safe because it's hidden. But Solomon warns us that anger rests—it settles and lodges—right there in the dark. You aren't managing your anger; you are just storing explosives in the basement of your soul.

We CANNOT allow the sun to go down on our wrath because when we do we are GIVING the devil a foothold in our lives...

Foolish Anger BEGINS on the inside but it neve stays there...The second thing I want you to notice is that...

Foolish Anger is Revealed Outwardly

Foolish anger doesn’t just affect the person that holds on to it. When it gets to a boil, IT BOILS OVER. Think about...

Proverbs 12:16 “A fool’s wrath is known at once, But a prudent man covers shame.”

A fool’s wrath (anger) is immediately VISIBLE! Someone said “a fool’s emotional state becomes public knowledge.” The contrast of the fool’s wrath is a prudent man. A prudent person learns to use wisdom and restrain his anger...

The next verse indicates something very similar. Notice...

Proverbs 14:17 “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of wicked intentions is hated.”

What does a “quick-tempered” person do? How does he/she act?

Which person is most likely to say something hurtful...a person with a quick temper or a person who is prudent?

Which person is most likely to say something they will regret...a person with a quick temper or a person who is prudent?

Which person is most likely to lash out in ways that will cost them...a person with a quick temper or a person who is prudent?

If you want to say and do foolish things, then allow your temper to control you, rather than learning how to control it.

Notice how else anger reveals itself in...

Proverbs 29:11 “A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.”

The Hebrew word translated “vents” means to “let loose.” Have you ever “let loose” on somebody? Have you ever been “let loose” on? The literal meaning for this is “pouring out one’s inner emotions without restraint.”

In other words, a FOOL allows his feeling to ERUPT! The inner turmoil and anger and bitterness and wrath that has been seething on the inside will eventually be UNLEASHED like an angry volcano!

I could illustrate this with a can of soda and a bottle of water. If I took a warm can of soda and shook it vigorously and I did the same thing with a warm bottle of water nothing would change on the outside. But as soon I opened both containers there would be a huge difference on the outside of those containers.

OUTBURSTS of anger reveals what is stored up on the inside of us. A person filled with foolish anger is like a shaken soda can just waiting to let loose on whomever may be closest to them.

Unrighteous anger reveals itself in unrighteous actions, words, and outbursts.

Foolish anger is never content with a “solo-performance.” Foolish anger wants an audience. What began as a hidden spark on the inside, has erupted into a wildfire on the outside, and now will INFECT the people around us... Proverbs 29:22 teaches us that...

Foolish Anger Can Grow Collectively

Proverbs 29:22 “An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man abounds in transgression.”

Not only does foolish anger reveal itself on the outside, but it affects others around the enraged individual.

The phrase “stir up” means to “kindle” or “breathe hard” on a fire. They ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE!

As a result some people will steer clear of the angry person because they like to instigate fights, friction, and conflict. Who enjoys being around contentious and argumentative people—other contentious and argumentative people—misery loves company...Maybe that’s why people take it to social media?

Those who embrace foolish anger often like to instigate anger and rage in others too. The draw others into the fray by spreading rumors, falsehoods, and discord. We see the idea of adding fuel to the fire in Proverbs 26:21:

Proverbs 26:21 NKJV

As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

As believers we do not be the “fuel” to a foolish person’s fire. The fire cannot keep burning if we don’t keep adding fuel by listening to and encouraging gossips.

We’ve learned THREE symptoms of foolish anger, but how do we OVERCOME foolish anger? How do we bring it under control? How do we stop allowing anger to get the best of us.

Foolish Anger Can be Curbed Spiritually

We Need Spiritual Discernment to Curb Foolish Anger

Proverbs 14:29 “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly.”

The word for “understanding” in this verse comes from the root meaning “to discern” and/or “to distinguish.” Someone suggested when we have this type of understanding we are able to separate truth from falsehood, wisdom from foolishness, and appropriate responses from DESTRUCTIVE ONES!

James tells us that if we “lack wisdom” we can pray in faith and ask for it and we will receive it. Sadly when one doesn’t take time to “be still and know that He is God” but rather REACTS with anger and rage the do what the last part of this verse talks about...BUT HE WHO IS IMPULSIVE EXALTS FOLLY.

We Need Spiritual Strength to Curb Foolish Anger

Note Proverbs 16:32 “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”

The “mighty” person in this context refers to someone who is a military conqueror. The writer of Proverbs tells us that a person who is strong enough to be “slow to anger” has far more might than some military conqueror who just goes into a place and wipes everything out.

The second part of the proverbs talks about a person who learns to “rule his spirit.” Just because you can win an argument doesn’t mean you should, you do not have to attend every debate or Facebook argument you are invited to. Knowing when NOT to speak or REACT is far more impressive than the person who “VENTS ALL HIS FEELINGS” in Proverbs 29:11.

In today’s context “ruling our spirit” would mean that we depend upon the HOLY SPIRIT to GOVERN us! We SURRENDER to the Spirit’s will, rather than lash out under the influence of the “flesh.”

As Proverbs 20:3 says...

Proverbs 20:3 “It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.”

Let’s go back to the New Testament where we began. Instead of turning to Ephesians, join me in Colossians and let’s be reminded of the verses Robert read earlier...

Colossians 3:1–2 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Let’s ask and answer the question: “Who is Paul talking to?”:

He is talking to those who have been “raised with Christ.” He is talking to believers. He is talking to those who have been BORN AGAIN.

What does he tell us to do?

He tells us to SEEK the things that are ABOVE!

Is foolish anger from “above”?

Is the wrath from men from “above”

Is malice from above?

Is blasphemy from above?

Is filthy language from above?

Is lying from above?

NONE of these things are from above...So these are not the things we need to “set our minds” on. What does he tell us to do with these things in...

Colossians 3:8 “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.”

It’s the exact same thought as we saw at the beginning of this message from Ephesians 4! We are to decisively SEVER these items from our lives as one would discard our old selves. Someone put it this way:

“putting off” connects to your identity transformation in Christ. Your old self was crucified with Christ so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, freeing you from slavery to sin (Rom 6:6). Those belonging to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal 5:24). This means putting off isn’t merely behavioral modification—it’s the outworking of a death that already occurred spiritually.

The practical implication is clear: anger, wrath, and malice aren’t habits to manage gradually but garments to remove immediately. You’ve already died to them in Christ; now you live that reality by refusing to wear them any longer.

When Christ died it is as if you and I died with Him. He died to set us free from the old man and his foolish anger. We have been raised to new life in Christ.

We haven’t been given the freedom to scream, vent, and destroy others when provoked. We need to cast aside the tattered and filthy garments of bitterness, wrath, and malice. We need to stop keeping score. We need to ask Christ to live His life through us, conquering the foolish anger that is lurking under the surface.

Will you come to the Lord today and ask Him to clear out the combustible things you have hidden away in the deep recesses of your soul? If not it will only take a simply spark to ignite a firestorm of anger and not only destroy YOU, but potentially destroy those you love in the process!

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