James 1:

19 My dear brothers and sisters, understand this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

 20 For man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

 21 Therefore, ridding yourself of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word which is able to save your soul.

The first time I really heard verse 20 For man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness, I was attending a prayer group at my church. I was expressing my frustration with the chaplaincy program at the hospital I served. As I voiced my anger, the group leader said, “Man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.” Wow!! That hit me right between the eyes. It was so true. It led me to wonder about righteous anger, justified anger. Am I not to be angry, ever?? Jesus was angry several times. But Jesus is God.

Is it a sin to be angry. No. It’s what we do in our anger. But that’s a whole other study I may tackle someday.

For this use of anger, we need to look at the context…all of it. This passage of scripture is referring to being taught the Word of God. When someone is teaching God’s Word, we should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. What does that look like? Listen. Really listen. Hear what the teacher is saying. Ask God to open your heart and mind to hear the truth in the message. Don’t “listen” by planning the next thing you’re going to say. If you’re offended by something that is said because it steps on your toes, or you simply disagree, be slow to get angry. Pray about it. Take it to God later when you’re alone. Search the Scriptures asking the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and heart to the truth and HUMBLY receive what God is trying to show you.

Be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11. “The people there were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the Word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures (the Holy Scriptures (of the Old Testament)[1] daily to see if the things were so.”

[1] Thayers Greek Lexicon, via BLB