Keep Your Cool
Today’s Verse:
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. ~Proverbs 14:29
I read a humorous story about an angry panda bear. “A panda walks into a restaurant, sits down and orders a sandwich. He eats the sandwich, pulls out a gun and shoots the waiter. As the panda stands up to go, the manager shouts, ‘Hey! Where are you going? You just shot my waiter and you didn't pay for your sandwich!’ The panda yells back at the manager, ‘Hey man, I'm a PANDA! Look it up in the dictionary!’ The manager opens his dictionary and sees the following definition for panda: ‘A tree-dwelling marsupial of Asian origin, characterized by distinct black and white coloring. Eats shoots and leaves.’” This story begs to ask each of us a sobering question: are you someone quick to anger and filled with rage, or someone who has your spirit under control?
We see the nature of anger.
Anger is an emotion we are born with. Anger is a reaction to a circumstance, event, or situation that disturbs us. When anger is aroused, we tend to be upset with the person or situation that caused us to be angry. We display our anger through reactionary words or physical confrontation. A disturbed frown on our face tells others that we are bothered and angry.
We see the necessity of anger.
There are some things in life that should disturb us. The Bible tells us, “Be ye angry, and sin not.” Inappropriate words or behavior from another person should stir us. Injustice should bother us. Blasphemous words said about our Lord should stir us and make us angry. There is righteous indignation that should arise within us against things that are inappropriate and unjust.
We see the negligence of anger.
Anger that is out of control is rage and wrath. When rage or wrath comes into play, our reaction is one of vengeance and retaliation. Our Scripture this morning says that he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. This means that we give rise to foolish behavior. This includes saying mean and hurtful things that we, later, will regret. It includes physical altercations that could lead to personal injury to the other person. It includes becoming destructive in our reaction, such as having road rage. How many of us can think of a situation when we became hasty of spirit and regretted our words or actions?
We see the neutralizing of anger.
We are admonished to be slow to react. “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding.” First, we should be sure that we have all the facts before we react. Second, we should determine that we can approach the situation and achieve a workable solution. Third, we should pray about the matter so that we allow the Lord to work in the hearts of the people who have stirred us up. Fourth, we must consider that our testimony for Christ is too valuable to be thrown away in a fit of rage. The Bible says that the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. God cannot work in an atmosphere where wrath is present.
Seek peace with all men as much as possible. Don’t allow your pride to control the emotion of anger. Bring your spirit under the control of the Holy Spirit. Pray for a spirit of meekness in all of your dealings. Watch as God works in and through you. In essence, watch your cool!
Have a peaceable God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Corinthians 5-9