Temper, temper, temper

Temper, temper, temper. Do you have one? We all do, to one degree or another. How are you doing at “reigning it in”? The Lord’s commands are clear: “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (Jas. 1:19). “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry” (Ecc. 7:9).

Controlling the temper is vital! “He who is slow to anger…is better than the mighty” (Prov. 16:32), “has great understanding” (14:29), “allays contention” (Prov. 15:18). “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression” (Prov. 19:11).

One of the most reassuring truths to enjoy is that Scripture repeatedly tells us that God Himself is “slow to anger.” As we strive to emulate Him, recognize that in those same verses we are told that He is “gracious and merciful” (Neh. 9:17; Psa. 103:8; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jon. 4:2), “abundant in kindness” (Neh. 9:17), “full of compassion” (Psa. 145:8), “ready to pardon” (Neh. 9:17) and “relents from doing harm” (Joel 2:13; Jon. 4:2). That’s my God! Is that me?