Anger for the Right Reasons

Key Verse: Nehemiah 5:6
“When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry.”

It’s hard to imagine righteous anger, but sometimes it’s exactly what is needed to spark change. Nehemiah, upon hearing of his people’s suffering, became very angry—not because of a personal offense but because of the greed that was dividing God’s people. Rather than building each other up, some were using others’ hardships for financial gain, a direct violation of the Law of Moses (Exodus 22:25). Nehemiah’s anger was not self-centered; it was rooted in a zeal for God’s people and His work. This teaches us that sometimes, righteous anger can be a response to injustice, particularly when it hinders God’s purpose.

Nehemiah’s anger wasn’t only about the money issues; it was about what those issues caused—a lack of unity among God’s people. They had been standing strong against outside enemies, yet this internal issue was tearing them apart. This unity was essential for them to complete God’s work on the wall, which symbolized security, strength, and their identity as God’s people. It’s a reminder of how division and internal strife within a church or community can weaken our ability to carry out God’s purposes.

This situation reminds us of Jesus’ anger in Matthew 21:12-13 when He drove out the merchants from the temple. He saw that what was meant to be a place of worship had been turned into a marketplace, prioritizing profit over prayer. In both cases, the anger was directed toward the way greed was blocking true worship and unity. Jesus and Nehemiah remind us that we should not be comfortable with behaviors that distort God’s mission. When we see similar patterns today, we should feel stirred to act—not in destructive anger but with a righteous desire to restore unity, justice, and holiness.

Nehemiah’s anger moved him to action to protect the unity and purpose of God’s people. It wasn’t anger for anger’s sake but a catalyst for resolution and restoration. If we feel anger over injustice or sin among God’s people, we should allow it to move us towards healing, unity, and furthering God’s work rather than causing further division. Let’s be people who, like Nehemiah and Jesus, feel the weight of what God values and courageously protect it.

PRAYER