Be Slow to Anger: Gospel Today Devotional - 25th September, 2021

LESSONS FROM PROVERBS (2)

Anger as it were is just a feeling that can be controlled. There are many things that may provoke one to anger. It could be that one was falsely accused of a crime he or she didn't commit. It could be that one was betrayed or talked to in a way that is inappropriate. The reasons are quite much. The truth is that anyone can be provoked to anger but how we respond to it is that which we are concerned about. There are some persons who cannot control the way they feel; they would rather prefer to flare up than to be calm.

If there was anyone who had every reason to be angry and whose anger could have been justified if he ever decided to be angry, it would have been our Lord Jesus Christ. He was betrayed, denied, rejected, criticised, disbelieved, etc. Yet, he never got angry, in this case, to the point of fighting the people or destroying things. Someone may say that Jesus got angry when he drove the people from the temple. That's very true. The question however is, was that anger destructive or was it to correct what was wrong?

As believers, we to frown at injustice, correct things that are contrary to the instructions of God. We are to frown at anything that does not exalt the name of the Lord and that would not please him; that was what Jesus did. The lesson today is centered on anger to the end that as believers, we would learn how to respond to situations that have the tendencies of provoking us to anger. May the Lord speak to your heart as well as mine. Let's see the passage of scripture below,

"He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. [29] He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly". (Proverbs 14:17, 29).

Anger as defined by Merriam Webster is a strong feeling of being upset or annoyed because of something wrong or bad. It also the feeling that makes someone want to hurt other people, to shout, etc. In other words, anger is just a feeling. You can see that, right? And feelings such as anger can be dealt with if one is taught how. Look at what the scripture says. It says that they are those who get angry easily (he that is soon angry) but the thing is that they deal foolishly.

This means that it is not wisdom to get upset easily. You deal foolishly when you allow situations to make you feel upset or shout or hurt another easily. That means that in responding to anger provoking situations, we must exhibit self control. We must be slow to anger. We must put our feelings under subjection. We may get angry, but we can decide if the feeling rules us or not. We can rule the feeling by being self controlled; not being easily provoked.

It says as well in verse 29 that the one who is slow to wrath which may mean another word for anger(not easily provoked) is of great understanding. However, he that is hasty of spirit (easily provoked, gets angry quickly, hot tempered) exalts folly (displays foolishness). We may not be able to prevent situations or people that provoke to anger but we can respond differently as the scripture has said, we can decide not to be easily provoked. It shows we are men of understanding. In conclusion, let's see this text;

"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). The Lord help us to be doers of his word. Amen.

Thought for the day: As a believer, how do you respond to anger provoking people or situations? Are you the one who gets angry quickly? Are you slow to anger? The latter is a man of understanding while the former exalts folly.

Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08161655758 or Email: [email protected].