Does your temper get the best of you? Does it cause you to do things you regret later? Does it get out of control at times? Do you allow your anger to entice you to vengeance? In your anger, do you make bad decisions? Are you willing give up your anger?
Our temper can get the best of us. Out of anger, we can make some very bad decisions. Our anger can cause us to be vindictive. In seeking vengeance, we can put ourselves and others at serious risk, not only our physical well-being but our spiritual well-being, too.
James gives us warnings against anger. He says we are to be slow to anger and that anger does not produce righteousness. He goes right to the spiritual damage anger can cause. The opposite of producing righteousness is to separate us from God. So, being angry, and especially staying that way, drives a wedge between us and God. Certainly not good for our spiritual well-being.
How do we combat anger? James tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Wow! That is the opposite of our current culture. Everyone wants to get their complaint out. Often, they fail to even wait for the other person to explain. It seems as no one wants to think about the other persons viewpoint. It is a “my way or the highway” attitude.
When we are willing to not only listen, but also ask questions, truly seeking to understand, we often find there is a logic behind the other persons viewpoint. We may not agree with them, but we understand. By understanding, we are less likely to be angry. After listening, we can then speak calmly and present our point of view. When this happens, a compromise can be agreed upon. Reconciliation can happen. Without listening, neither are possible and our own spiritual well-being is put at risk.
I pray we all seek to listen to one another. I pray we seek to understand one another’s viewpoint. I pray each one of us will be slow to anger for both our physical and spiritual well-being. Seek to listen first. Be slow to speak. Seek to understand. Be slow to anger.
James 1:19-20 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.
Marty Pressey 