Job 32:1-5  So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused. (NIV)

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Anger is a warning sign, not a badge of honor. 

Anger is the dashboard gauge that lets you know there’s a problem. Anger is not the solution to the problem. Anger tends to dislodge righteousness from our thoughts, speech, and behavior. 

Three times these verses tell us that Elihu was angry. He was angry with Job. He was angry with Job’s three friends. He was angry that those friends had nothing else to say to refute Job’s claims of innocence and righteousness. 

Dear friend, if everything makes you angry, you are not the solution. You’re the problem. 

If this makes you angry, reread the two sentences in the last paragraph. 

Chapter 42 of Job says that Job prayed for his friends and the LORD forgave them. There’s no mention of Elihu. He was probably angry about that. 

Anger is not a good lead measure. 

Sometimes anger is justified. Anger is fitting and proper in the face of injustice. Let it be a guide, not a master. Let it drive us to do hard right things, not to make things harder, nor add to unrighteousness. Anger out of control is sinful and harmful. 

There are a lot of places in the Bible that say God blesses peacemakers. I don’t recall anything that says God blesses the perpetually angry. 

That’s a point worth pondering. 

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I will recognize anger as a warning sign and not wear it as a badge of honor. 

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Our Father, anger is easy to come by. Justice is harder to attain. Empower us to manage anger in a manner that ends with justice, healing, and reconciliation. Deliver us from every temptation to use anger in a manner that makes things worse. Teach us how to get good and angry. Empower us to choose kindness when we’d rather punch somebody in the nose. Amen.