The Truth In Print, Volume 12 Issue 3, April 2006
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-539-7089)
What To Tell Your Mate When They Are Guilty Of Wrath
By Bob W. Lovelace
Christians need to study and then be
honest and make the right applications to one another, all family members, and
especially with their own mates (Cf. I Th. 5:14).
The kind of anger described in the word
“wrath” (thumos, Gal. 5:20) is defined as:
A. Strong’s
Help: Greek 2372, Strong’s thumos, thoo-mos';
from Greek 2380 (thuo); passion (as if breathing hard) :-
fierceness, indignation, wrath. Compare
Greek 5590 (psuche).
B. The New Am. Std.
Bible says “outbursts of anger” whereas the KJV uses the word “wrath.”
C. Thayer, thumos:
1) passion, angry, heat,
anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again
2) glow, ardour, the
wine of passion, inflaming wine (which either drives the drinker mad or kills
him with its strength).
WHAT ARE THE THINGS ONE SHOULD TELL A MATE CONCERNING
THEIR WRATH?
1. We should tell them that they are “obeying”
unrighteousness in obeying wrath or indignation!
One devastating
scriptural point directed towards the guilty is that this is “obeyed.” Hear
Paul, “But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, indignation and wrath” (Rom. 2:8).
2. Tell them
that they are guilty of willful and perverse “disbelief” of the truth!
Based upon Rom. 2:8 tell them that! The words “do not obey”
are lit. “to disbelieve.” (Strong’s Help apeitheo, Greek 544, ap-i-theh'-o; from Greek 545
(apeithes); to disbelieve (willfully and
perversely) :- not believe, disobedient, obey not, unbelieving.).
1)
Romans 2:1-3
“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man,
whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest
thyself; for thou that judgest doest
the same things. [2] But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to
truth against them which commit such things. [3] And thinkest
thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such
things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape
the judgment of God?”
2) Question: Have you ever seen one given to wrath and
anger who did not judge others? This is one of their characteristics. Tell them any attempt to disguise is futile! Simply tell them they are a hypocrite!
(Cf. Matt. 7:1-5).
3) Tell them they are storing up wrath unto themselves! Tell them to read this carefully—
Romans 2:5
“But after thy hardness and
impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and
revelation of the righteous judgment of God;”
4. Tell them they only think they will escape
eternal death! (Rom. 2:3)
Tell them that they think that that God will not judge them with the same
severity as the lost world (Cf. Rom. 2:9, 11). “Escape thinkers” forget that God is not partial! Concerned reader,
consider the death of Ahab in I Kings 22 as he tries in vain to escape God’s
judgment (I Kings 22—the death of Ahab).
5. Tell them it is their stubbornness and
unrepentant heart that continually produces their obedience to unrighteousness! (Cf. Rom. 2:5 above)
1) A hardened heart ( think “epoxy” – resisting truth) is
still a productive, active, practicing heart! (Cf. Rom. 2:1, 3)
6. Tell them they have a heart that “despises”
the riches of God’s kindness!
Here is the list
of things they despise:
Romans 2:4
“Or despisest thou the riches of
his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness
of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
To “despise” is “to think little of, disesteem” — directed towards the
riches (great wealth or value in bestowing) of God’s kindness (goodness), forbearance (“self restraint” or delay in
punishing), longsuffering (patience, longanimity).
a. Tell them God’s “forbearance” doesn’t mean weakness (connect with their
despising) or ignoring!
b. Tell them God’s longsuffering is not equal to
forgiveness, thus Paul stresses repentance!
7. Tell them about their rage against faithful
preachers and teachers!
a. When he
does not fit their ideal (Cf. Lk. 4:22; the same thinking in Matt. 13:55-57 —
not what He said but “who” he was! He didn’t fit their ideal. Read the events
in Luke 4. It goes from them speaking well of Him and marveling (Lk.
b. Tell them how sick they really are with their public commendations, when
application turns their flattery to wrath and friendship to hatred! Tell them they are sending themselves
to Hell by being unwilling to hear the truth and profit by the right
applications!
c. Tell them about their rage against the ones who hit their pocket
books with the truth! Tell them they are “selfishly ambitious” (Cf.
1)
NASB Dictionary Help eritheia, Greek 2052, NASB eritheia; from eritheuo (to work for hire); rivalry, hence ambition :-
ambition(3), ambitious(1), disputes(2), selfish(3), selfishly(1),
selfishness(1).
8. Tell them one work of
the flesh has lead to others!
1) Proverbs 29:22
“An angry man stirreth up strife,
and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.”
Conclusion: Tell your mate, or other family, that when they repent of
“wrath” they will repent of associated sins as well. Until then they are of the
Devil and full of evil works! (Cf. James 3:14-16; 2 Cor. 12:20; Eph. 4:31; Col.
3:8). Yes! Tell your mate about their wrath!