Title: Handle Your Anger Well
2 Kings (2) Manage Your Anger Well
(2 Kings 1: 5-18)
<Ahaziah is angry with Elijah>
Ahaziah, who was ill from falling off the balustrade, sent messengers to inquire of the god Baal if he would be cured. Then Elijah blocked their way and proclaimed God's judgment against Ahaziah. Ahaziah was angry and sent the captain of fifty and fifty men to Elijah to arrest Elijah. The captain of fifties spoke disrespectfully to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of the mountain (verse 9). “Man of God! The king said come down!”
Then Elijah said, “If I am a man of God, fire will come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” Then fire immediately came down from heaven and consumed the fifty captain and his fifty men (verse 10). Even after hearing the news, Ahaziah did not repent and sent another fifty commander and fifty men a second time. Then the second captain of fifty delivered the king's command in a disrespectful manner, and God's fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men (verse 12).
Still, Ahaziah sent fifty commanders and fifty men a third time. But the third captain of fifty came to Elijah with a respectful attitude, knelt down on his knees, and politely asked for grace. Then the angel of the Lord told Elijah to go with him. So Elijah went to the king with the captain of fifty and proclaimed God's word of judgment. In the end, according to the word, Ahaziah died, and his brother Jehoram became king in his place (verse 17).
The difference between the first and second fifty managers and the third fifty chiefs was only in their humble and respectful words and deeds, but that difference resulted in the difference between life and death. That's why being humble and polite is so important. Why did our nation become a people loved by God and a missionary nation? There are many shortcomings, but I think it may be because we are a nation with respect and humility. In particular, the Korean language is very well developed. Humility and respectful words and deeds are a very important factor in receiving God's grace and blessing human relationships.
< Manage your anger well >
It happened in the fall of 1998 when I was suffering from the IMF. One day, I signed a contract for 40,000 won to make a Bible study material and sent a copy to a copy shop. But when I was looking for it, the hostess said that she made a mistake in the calculation and suddenly asked for 64,000 won. Asking for too much, I presented another receipt I had copied before and calmly said that the price was too much. However, the response of the hostess was terrifying.
At that time, there were several more employees in the copy house, and they seemed to say the same thing. “Why do people who believe in Jesus spend so much money?” I also wanted to give the money boldly and cleanly at that time, but the church finances are ‘money donated with sincerity from the members even in difficult circumstances’, so I don’t think I showed a generous mind at that time because of my unconscious attitude to spend it sparingly.
When they were arguing over the price, the owner's face suddenly changed and she shouted at the male employee next to her. "Hey! Tear that textbook to shreds!” And yelled at me too. "go!" At that time, I saw the ugly devil on the face of the owner. Thinking that it might have happened to someone who didn't believe me, I got angry in my heart, but I just turned around without saying a word and came out of the copy shop.
My mind has calmed down. So I immediately went back to the copy house, gave the money, and said quietly "Madame! I think I made you feel uncomfortable. There seems to be a lack of communication. But no matter how upset you are, can we just throw away textbooks like this in the IMF era? Just give it to me.” And he offered me 64,000 won.
Suddenly the place became quiet. The attitude of the hostess was also polite. And after receiving 64,000 won, he returned the rest of the money for only 30,000 won, which was cheaper than the first price. “Isn’t that a loss?” He said and gave the road 64,000 won, but the owner reluctantly refused to accept it. I gave it recklessly. At that time, when we were conceding money to each other, I saw an angel on the face of the owner. It took less than ten minutes for the ugly devil to turn into a beautiful angel.
Being polite and yielding is so important. If you show such an attitude first, the person you thought was a devil will soon turn into an angel. Be slow to anger. If you put fire on even the smallest things well, the fire of your life will come. Holy anger for justice is sometimes necessary, but if you are hurting other people's hearts by getting angry because you can't overcome your own personality and prejudice, such wrong anger will burn human relationships and even relationships with God.
What is prayer? Even the anger that boils in your heart is to take it to God and deal with it. Don't be too angry with someone you don't like. In God's eyes, you too have many such sins and faults. Those who realize that fact and pray for him receive God's grace. When a habit becomes old, it becomes a character. When you tolerate anger well, your ability to endure will increase and you will receive the grace of God for patience, and the anger in your life will decrease significantly.