Category Archives: sin

The Cause of Anger?

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“In facing up to our anger, we need to realize that no one else causes us to be angry. Someone else’s words or actions may become the occasion of our anger, but the cause lies deep within us — usually our pride, or selfishness, or desire to control.”

— Jerry Bridges
RESPECTABLE SINS (Navpress, 2007), page 122

True! So be aware, and be prepared to respond to words or deeds that might provoke you to anger. Remember the commands of your Lord:

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
 (Ephesians 4:29-32, esv)

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Beware of “bigger barns” syndrome

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Tomorrow morning I’m speaking to our Iron Man Fellowship breakfast from LUKE 12. Think about this. Ask yourself if your life aims at getting more stuff, or more of God. Jesus thought this was mighty important — He gives a rebuke, a reminder, then a parable, and warns of the judgment to come!

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:13-21 ESV (emphasis added)