Self-Destructive Anger
Job 18:4 Bildad accuses Job of self-destructive anger and emphasizes that human suffering cannot alter God’s unchanging order. As believers, we are called to avoid self-destructive anger in our suffering.
9/2/20261 min read
You who tear yourself in anger, Shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed from its place? Job 18:4 (NKJV)
After Job reproaches his friends, Bildad gets angry with him accusing him of counting them as the beasts. He then accuses Job of tearing himself up in his anger and no matter what he does, he cannot disrupt the divine order of God. Even though Job's lament was a cry for justice rather than an open rebellion against God, Bildad hits a biblical truth about the dangers of self-destructive anger and how it does nothing for the divine order, and only tears the soul apart.
As Bildad implied, anger and frustration that is uncontrolled can tear us apart and cause self-inflicted harm rather than productive action and does not alter God’s sovereign plan. Ephesians 4:26–27 says, "be angry, yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold." It is ok to be angry when we are in turmoil, and it is a part of the human condition, but we must be vigilant to not let our anger get out of control because Satan will use it to bring us and others around us to sin that may destroy lives, weakening our commission as Christians.
Choose to protect yourself against self-destructive anger, choosing humility, trust, and the recognition that God's stability transcends human suffering. Be slow to anger, seeking God's wisdom and support though prayer and bible reading. Write down verses such as Proverbs 14:29, Ephesians 4:26-27, and Galatians 5:22-23 on a notecard, referring to them when you feel uncontrolled anger building up. Actively seek harmony in your life by managing stress, exercising, and getting rest. Enlist a trusted friend, pastor, or mentor to check in on your progress and help you stay on track. When you protect yourself against self-destructive anger, Satan loses his foothold, and you gain strength in the community of Christ.