He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly. Proverbs 14:29
Anger is something that very few people can completely escape from ever having. People respond in anger in different ways. How a person responds in anger gives an indication of the character of the person. Some are very slow to getting angry, while others get angry very quickly and often without any thought. Most people will direct their anger at someone else and act upon it.
Solomon points out that the person who is slow to wrath or anger has great understanding, while the person who is quick to anger praises foolishness.
In and of itself anger is neither good nor bad. Getting angry at times is natural and something that even God does. Where the problem lies is in how fast and often a person gets angry.
Allowing anger to rise quickly in the heart of a person will cause a person to say or do things that should not be said or done. Foolish actions and words occur over quick anger. Over the years many people have committed physical murder in the sudden heat of anger. Friendships have been destroyed over sudden exploding anger.
Although God is a God of peace, He does get angry at times. There were times when Jesus got angry, but He did not blow up and say and do things that were foolish. In His anger, He carefully pointed people back to God and His word.
Instead of allowing explosive and sudden anger, believers are to be slow to anger just as God is slow to anger. Being slow to anger just means that one takes a step back to observe the situation and make the right decision as to how to deal with it. That person has great understanding.
There will be times in your life in which you will get angry about someone or something. At those times stop and take a step back and strive to understand the situation and how Jesus would react to it. Slow the level of anger down so that you can make the right choice, rather than flying into sin and foolishness. Allow God’s peace to overcome your anger and guide you in the right way to react so that He may receive all the glory and praise, rather than bringing shame to His name.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will give you strength to be slow to anger; that God will give you understanding of all situations in your life; and that you will make choices that will honor God.
Picture by Mitsuo Komoriya on Unsplash
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