Hot-tempered or Slow to Anger?

 The Bible has a lot to say about anger. There are numerous stories about how anger caused people a lot of trouble. We are warned to watch out for anger, and if we do get angry, not to let that lead us to sin. There is even an admonition to "put away all anger." From my perspective and experience I think that is the best course of action for all of us.

The Lord gave us a clear warning about the difference between being hot-tempered and slow to anger. (Proverbs 15:18) "A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute." There is much wisdom to be gleaned from this one verse. Let's take a minute to consider what God has told us.

A hot-temper is a short fuse. It doesn't mean that we fly off the handle immediately when we hear or see something we don't like. It means that we get angry quickly before taking time to really think about what is happening. A hot-tempered person thinks that he or she is justified at getting angry, so they begin immediately to stir up strife. In other words their temper leads them to make things worse for them and for others.

On the other hand a person who is slow to anger calms a dispute. They take time to think, and they pray for God to show them what they should do. If it is a sinful situation, they may have some anger at the sin, but what they do will be constructive instead of destructive. They will be clam and lead others to be calm, too. That is why James was inspired to tell us to be "quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger." (James 1:19)

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 16-18.