#81 Deal with Anger _ _ _ _ _ _ _ You shall not hate your fellow-countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your peaple, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord (LEv. 19:17,18, NASB). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This verse shows us that it is very appropriate for us to tactfully reprove a neighbor or friend who offends us. But we must never hold any grundes or seek vengeance. Vengeance is God's business; it is not our business. The only unconscious motive there is for holding a grudge for any past offence is a subtle desire to get vengeance on the person who offended us. Holding grudges and a vengeful attitude are the primary root causes of depression, and they are both sin. If we would only realize that getting angry is normal and reproving the person who offends us (before bedtime, according to ephesioans 4:26) is godly and even commanded, it would be much easier for us to forgive people who offended us and we might even help them change their offensive behavior as well.
