Anger: strong emotion, wrath, rage
Pride: too high an opinion of oneself; feeling of elation
This strong emotion called wrath, and the one called rage can be found almost anywhere. If you don't believe me, let someone cut you off in traffic! These emotions are in our home, in our workplaces, and believe it or not, in our Churches too. Just let someone sit on your favorite pew or in your favorite seat or park in your parking spot! And don't mess around and hold a position in the Church - that's when that thing called pride (that high opinion of one self) will surely rear its ugly head up. Take it from me, when we feel like someone has done us wrong, we should go to that person and try to reconcile the situation before we allow pride to take over. It's very possible the other person might want to work things out as well. However, we will never know if we don't try and more than likely, all parties involved will suffer.
Anger and pride can be extremely dangerous weapons, and when the two are working together, they can easily drive people to violence. Look at all of the killing in the schools, and people killing others just because they lost their job. People get very angry, and Mr./Mrs. Pride walks in and gets them thinking, "those people are not going to do this to me and get away with it;" and "who do they think they are?" It's really best not to react in the moment. When you are done wrong or when you are insulted, take a deep breathe before you respond. Often times we get so interested in winning the battle, that we never even try to solve the problem.
Look at Haman in the Book of Esther; he was so caught up in the fact that Mordecai (a single man) would not bow down in reverence to him that he wanted all the Jews killed. His anger got him into trouble though. Haman had a gallows built for Mordecai to be hung; however, his high opinion of himself ended up getting him hung instead. Let's take heed to what Proverbs 16:18 tells us, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
Remember, God knows that we are human and he loves us just as he created us. He said in His word, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26). Verse 27 goes on to say in the Amplified version: "Leave no (such) room or foot hold for the devil (give no opportunity to him.)" We must follow in the footsteps of Jesus: "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."
With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!
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