For our lesson thoughts today I’m going to address a problem that many of us have in our lives. Something that many of us have to guard against. I’m speaking of our propensity to sometimes let “anger,” whether real or imagined, cause us to say things we wish we hadn’t.
All of us who have
children can relate to these thoughts, but not only just parents but also other
situations in our lives. How many times have we “flew off the handle” and
then rued having done so? Then often having to “eat our words.”
Sometimes referred to as dining on a certain “proverbial” bird. Speaking
for myself, too many times and I don’t like the taste of crow.
As an aid to this
lesson, I’m going to recite a little story, said to be a true incident. It’s a
very sad example, but still, very fitting with Bible teachings on this
subject. Without further ado here’s the story.
Sometime ago their was a
faithful dog who was a constant companion of a small child. One day both
the dog and the child disappeared. A diligent search by parents, friends
and neighbors proved to be fruitless. The child could not be found.
After
several hours the dog returned home, but he was covered with blood. The
father jumped to the conclusion that the dog had become vicious and had killed
the child. The dog must be destroyed, so he got his gun and killed the
dog.
A
little later the child was found in the woods unharmed, nearby was the body of
a panther that the dog had killed in his struggle to protect the child.
How do you suppose the father felt after learning that his hasty judgment
resulted in the death of the dog that saved his child from death?
What
is the moral of this story? So often we are guilty of conclusion
jumping. We take actions or express our opinion before consideration of
all the facts. The result is usually unpleasant and at times irreparable
damage is done.
I told you that it was a
sad story, but I believe that it starkly shows just how devastating a hasty
action can be. Just as the moral of the story said, “at times irreparable damage is done.”
Many times it can cause separation in families, both earthly and spiritually,
that never healed. As the “father” in the story must have felt after his
hasty action, how will we feel if we, by some hasty action on our part, cause
someone to fall away from the church and lose eternal life?
Well, let’s look at what
God says about actions of this sort. And, a little study will show us
that the philosophy seen in the words of James is constant and steadfast
throughout the Bible. Of course I’m referring to our propensity to speak
hastily or in “anger”
and then when the facts become known, wish we had kept our mouth shut.
First off, let’s look at
the nature of God in regards to our lesson. In Nehemiah 9:17 we read that
He is “slow to anger”
and of “great kindness.”
Then in Psalm 103:8 the Psalmist tells us that He is “merciful and gracious” and
is “slow to anger.”
Then when we turn to Psalm 145:8 we read there that God is “compassionate” and (still) “slow to anger.”
Why is it important for
us to know the nature of God? Because scripture tells us that we are to
strive to be like Him. To be of His nature. In Romans 15:5 we read
that He is the God of “patience
and consolation” and that we are to be “likeminded.” The Greek word for “likeminded” means to be of
“similar spirit.” And 1Peter 1:16 simple says: “...be ye holy as I am holy.”
Then we can read some passages
that relate to our nature. Proverbs 14:29 tells us that if we’re “slow to wrath” then we’ll
have “understanding.”
But, if we are “hasty of
spirit” then we’re “foolish.”
In Proverbs 15:18 we learn that, if we’re “slow
to anger” we will “calm
strife.”
As regards one of the
main points of the lesson today is seen in what Solomon penned in Proverbs
16:32. If you turn there you’ll read that a person who is “slow to anger” is the one
who “rules his spirit.”
Earlier I used the phrase about “flying off the handle” and that precisely
reveals someone who has lost control over his spirit.
In closing, and to
paraphrase James’ words, “Brethren”
we need to strive to control our
“spirit” in the realm of speaking in “anger” and thereby possibly creating “irreparable damage.”
And his advice, which is God’s advice, says that, in order to avoid causing
such “damage,”
then we should be “swift to
hear, slow to speak and slow to anger/wrath.”
“Swift,” as used by James, means to be “ready” to hear. Of a
nature to be willing to “hear”
the “whole matter”
before we “speak”
or engage our mouth. And when we possess those attributes - when we “rule our spirits” then
we’ll be “slow to anger.”
Thus not having to regret a harmful action.
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Covey
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Ron Covey
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