"A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame." - Proverbs 12:16
"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." - Proverbs 16:32
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Lets face it head on from the get go.... we all get mad !!
Whether the reason is completely trivial, or of deep moral, social, political importance.... it is more than enough to get us " 'riled up and fired up" !! Sometimes this anger results in violence and mayhem..... and at the opposite end of the spectrum.... makes us look foolish!!!
Our texts for this week show the value of managing our temper. Note that they do not offer an opinion on whether the anger is justified or not...
The fool immediately, some may say transparently, lets his/her anger be known -- idiomatically in the proverb --- that very same day ("yom"). The wise person knows how to cover his/her "private parts" (implied in the word used for 'shame')... by extension... his/her private anger.
One that is slow to anger & able to rule ones spirit is better than the mighty, and a conqueror superior to one that captures a city!
Lets look at some other instances in which anger is mentioned in this wonderful book, and see if we can get some help dealing with our anger management issues....
a. Dealing with the angry
Pro 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Similar to " don't answer a fool according to his folly " ... the best way to deal with an angry person is NOT to reciprocate in kind! Angry words are like pouring gasoline on a fire, but a soft answer works like water!!
Pro 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
You cannot answer an angry person with soft words if you yourself are prone to flying off the handle...it is wise to look to managing your anger first, before you will be sble to pacify others.
b. Moving beyond it, and not getting dragged down to the angry persons level
Pro 19:11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Anger has a flip side.... forgiveness even when you have been wronged! The Word says, that is GLORIOUS!!! There is a popular saying that is half right..." Dont get mad, get even." The first part is perfect... the second, yes, sometimes, but if we can forgive and move on, the peace you will have, will more than make up for it.
Pro 20:2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
Be mindful of who you are provoking... if it is the king(/one in great authority), you are like a person happily sawing away the branch you are sitting on ! ? Don't do that.... watch your temper in front of your superiors.
c. A practical hint....
Pro 21:14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
Heres another strategy .... exemplified in the OT by Jacob as he went to meet Esau (whom he had cheated of his birthright ). He sent presents ahead... and it worked!!! A gift from someone who you KNOW you are angry with definitely helps in the kissing and making up process (this maybe a word to the married!! ).
d. The anger of the wicked is not to be feared
Pro 22:8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
This is a tricky one. Some anger (even wrath) is justified when the cause is righteous... and punishing the evil in anger is something we see Jesus do ( kicking out the money changers in the temple, calling the religious leaders snakes and the children of the devil ). But when a sinner is angry because his schemes have come to naught and tries to take it out on others, the Word tells us that those actions are doomed to failure!
e. Anger and Envy
Pro 27:4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
If you were asked which is worse, anger or envy, how would you respond? Surely anger causes more hurt, pain and suffering than envy?
That's not how the Word sees it. Envy is far worse!!
Envy of Christs ministry is what caused the religious leaders to seek to kill him. Cain killed Abel out of envy. Envying the capability of God to know Good and Evil got us kicked out of the garden ( by intentional design we should add...but nevertheless, it was a factor in Eves decision ). Ananias and Sapphira envied the esteem in which those that gave all to the ministry of the early church were held, but their greed caused them to keep back some of their money, and lie to the Holy Spirit. The envy of the Jews of Pauls ministry blinded and deafened them to the good news of the gospel. "Thou shalt not covet" is enshrined in the LORD's top 10 !!
And, speaking of the Law, in the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord says..." Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother ---without a cause ---- shall be in danger of the judgment:" ( Mat 5:21-22)
Please note ( and we have highlighted ) ... being angry for NO REASON--- is condemned. Our Lord did NOT say... don't be angry...period --- because He knew, and we would do well to pay attention here... that anger is sometimes JUSTIFIED. The Word gives us the guidance on how to deal with it.
We ( and we feel we have the Spirit of the Lord as well ) are angry at the way Christianity has been reduced to a religion for profit, at the way shepherds prey on their congregations, at the lack of willingness of good Christians to dig into the Word for themselves and discover the Lord first hand.
That anger is the fire that fuels this page... to give the body of Christ the nourishment it needs to tackle the complex issues of todays world. All of that knowledge is available on our companion website, and arranged for your convenience in the very first (pinned) post on this Page.... for free!
Our only prayer is that the Lord helps us to minister in His strength, and that the Word we receive will not return void, but will go out into the world and accomplish the purpose for which He sent it --- to convict, bless, govern, educate, and give us of His peace!!
Hallelujah!!