Walking with the Wise #178: Control Your Anger

“A man of quick temper acts foolishly,

and a man of evil devices is hated.”
—Proverbs 14:17

Are you a hothead? We all know someone with anger problems—those who pop off in a fit of rage, spewing forth all kinds of horrid words and insults that burn like lava all of those who are unfortunate enough to be in his presence. Quick tempers don’t equal wise decisions—most often they result in hasty words and decisions that can never be taken back, resulting in hurt feelings and painful wounds that may never be healed.

Quick tempers may be learned, or developed over time, but our example must be the Lord Jesus. We must learn to control our temper, or deal with the consequences and fall out from letting it control us

Are you quick tempered? Do people think of you as a hothead? Have you hurt others with your insensitive and unkind words during one of your fits of rage? Then cultivate the fruit of self-control that is available to all of God’s children. Learn to bless with your tongue and not curse, asking God to transform your tongue and your temper and control as Jesus did, of whom the Bible says,

“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth”—Isaiah 53:7.

Jesus didn’t have a quick temper, but exhibited self-control in even in the most dire and difficult situations. He is our example and it is Him that we must seek to be like. Let’s not be foolish or rash, controlled by our tempers—instead, may we live the life of Jesus, asking God by His Spirit to grow up the Son of God in us so that we might learn to live in grace that is

“training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”—Titus 2:12-13.

Amen.