Anger

“BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger”  Ephesians 4:26

Anger – It comes from the same root, but it’s not the same word.  Yesterday we discovered that “BE ANGRY” is in a quotation from Psalm 4.  Paul uses the Greek word orgizo.   Then Paul modifies this verb.  When he gives us the daily rule about conflict resolution, he uses a word derived from paraorgizo.  He adds that little prefix para because he wants to add something to the meaning.  By adding para, Paul draws an image of focused energy.  He wants us to see anger coming to the point of boiling over.  It’s the straw that breaks the camels back.  It’s the “I’ve had enough of this” shout.  It’s that moment when it all breaks loose.

What’s the common excuse?  “I couldn’t help it.  My emotions just took over.”  Paraorgizo is the verb that expresses anger as a result of being provoked to the point of explosion.  But this kind of anger is never in line with the Spirit.  God displays orgizo, righteous wrath about disobedience and rebellion.  But God does not display paraorgizo.  Paraorgizo leads to bitterness, violence, revenge, strife and loss of self-control.  Not exactly godly attributes.

So, Paul introduces the “Daily Resolution Rule”:  Don’t let the sun go down on this kind of anger.  If you get caught in the paraorgizo thunderstorm, make sure it goes out the door when you go to bed. 

Now you can see the point of Paul’s opening quotation from Psalm 4.  Display God’s anger about sin.  Don’t let sin get a foothold.  With righteous anger in your arsenal, employ the Resolution Rule.  Use orgizo to kick paraorgizo out the door by the end of the day.