My Brothers’ Keeper

Scripture:

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Ephesians 4:26 (CSB)
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3–4 (CSB)

Observation:

On Sunday, Pastor spoke about a shift that occurred in Nehemiah, chapter five, where the problems became a matter from within, and were no longer about exterior problems in the building. Anger is an issue we don’t often talk about. As God’s children, we try day in and day out, to move in the Spirit of the Lord. However, because we are still living in the flesh, we are not always perfect in dealing with anger. Still, how we deal with anger is significant in our pursuit to build the Kingdom of God. The issue of anger has a lot to do with selfishness.

Anger is a natural human emotion — and scripture doesn’t deny that. Ephesians 4:26 doesn’t say “don’t be angry”; it says, “be angry and do not sin.” That distinction is important. Emotions themselves are not sin, but what we do with them can be.

Letting the sun go down on our anger means allowing it to linger and ferment — giving it space to grow into bitterness, pride, or coldness toward others. When that happens, we can easily slip into selfishness, defensiveness, or a hardened heart.

Philippians 2:3–4 challenges us to approach others with humility; especially in tense moments. When our instinct is to protect ourselves, prove our point, or defend our pride, God gently reminds us: “Consider others more important than yourselves.” That doesn’t mean we invalidate our own experiences, but we intentionally choose to value peace, unity, and reconciliation above being right.

Application:

Anger is a signal, not a destination. It alerts us that something matters, and we should pay attention to it — but it shouldn’t lead us to sin, selfishness, or silence. When you feel anger rising, pause, pray, and ask yourself:
•   Am I responding in humility?
•   Am I considering the other person’s perspective?
•   What does love look like in this situation?
Instead of letting the sun set on your frustration, let God’s grace rise over it. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you process your emotions with honesty and compassion.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your Word, which helps guide our emotions and relationships. When we feel angry, help us to pause and slow down, so we can respond with humility. Teach us not to lash out on impulse; and not to shut down, but to seek peace and pursue understanding. Show us how to place others before ourselves, even when it’s hard. Lord, we don’t want to give anger, or the enemy, any space. We surrender it all to You. In the mighty name of Jesus — Amen.