"God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry" (Jonah 4: 9).
Anger is not always sinful, but it has a tendency to run wild. Whenever it displays itself, we should be quick to question its character with this inquiry, "Doest thou well to be angry?" It may be that we can answer, "Yes." Very frequently anger is the madman's firebrand, but sometimes it is Elijah's fire from heaven. We do well when we are angry with sin because of the wrong which it commits against our good and gracious God. We are rightfully angry with ourselves if we remain so foolish after so much divine instruction. He who is not angry at transgression becomes a partaker in it. Sin is a loathsome and hateful thing, and no renewed heart can patiently endure it. God Himself is angry with the wicked every day. It is written in His Word, "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil" (Psalm 97: 10). Far more frequently it is to be feared that our anger is not commendable or even justifiable. Then we must answer, "No." Why should we be fretful with children, irritable with workers, or irate with friends? Is such anger honorable to our Christian profession or glorifying to God? It is the old evil heart seeking to gain dominion. We should resist it with all the might of our new-born nature. Many believers give way to temper as though it were useless to attempt resistance. But let the believer remember that he must be a conqueror in every point, or else he cannot be crowned. If we cannot control our tempers, what has grace done for us? We must not make natural infirmity an excuse for sin. We must ask the Lord to crucify our tempers and renew us in gentleness and meekness after His own image.