Do you have a bad temper? If you do and I asked you why, you might say something like this: “That’s how God made me. I have a short fuse.” “That’s just how us redheads are.” “I lost my temper because I’m not feeling well today.” “It’s because I’m Irish.” Proverbs 12:16 [HCSB] says, “A fool's displeasure is known at once, but whoever ignores an insult is sensible.” What makes you lose your temper? Some lose their temper when they don’t get their way, Nehemiah 4:1-7; or get jealous, 1 Samuel 18:6-9; Luke 15:28. Of the Prodigal Son’s older brother it was said, “he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.” Some lose their temper after hearing the truth, 2 Chronicles 16:7-10; Jeremiah 37:11-15. Some get angry at God, 2 Samuel 6:6-8. David got angry at God for killing Uzzah. Anger can lead to contention, Genesis 31:36; violence, Numbers 22:27; and other sins. “An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.” Proverbs 29:22. But anger itself is not a sin. God gets angry, Number 22:22; 25:3. Jesus got angry. Anger comes from the Latin word ango, which means to choke or strangle. Anger is an aggressive emotion but it doesn’t have to result in sin when handled with maturity. You can be angry without sinning, “BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,” Ephesians 4:26. “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;” James 1:19. When others lose their temper, learn to keep yours. “If the ruler's temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.” Ecclesiastes 10:4. Don’t “stuff” your anger. Learn how to righteously unleash your angry thoughts. God made us with the emotion of anger, but He also teaches us how to master and use it.