James 1:20

New International Version (NIV)

Because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

For Meditation

The call came just as I sat down for dinner.

“Did you know that your brother’s wife had miscarried? She’s been hospitalized for the past five days with some complications”, my friend said.

That was the spark. “How dare he keep this from me and not call me”, I said.

“Calm down, dear. Finish eating and call your brother. Perhaps there is a good reason”, my wife said.

But the fire was already out of control, and only the fire extinguisher of the Holy Spirit could quench it. Unfortunately, I was an unbeliever!

1. Have you experienced a situation before when your anger burned out of control and destroyed a relationship for years?
2. On hindsight, how bad was the causative issue? Was it beyond a calm and reasonable resolution?
3. Was the direct and collateral damage worth your rage? Given a second chance, would you handle it differently?
4. Do you see why James tells us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19-20)?
5. Isn’t that good counsel? It’s important we don’t miss anything that is said; but don’t you think it would save us a lot of trouble, if we allow space for the Holy Spirit to grant us understanding and wisdom before we speak?

I pray that even as difficult as things can get, we would remember the consequence of Moses’ outburst against the Israelites at Meribah (Nu, 20:10). God said it did not honor Him as holy before the Israelites, and that cost Moses the Promised Land (12).

So: May we submit our temper to the control of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:23), so that it does not lead us to sin (Eph. 4:26); and may we take steps to settle issues before the devil gains a foothold in them.

When your anger begins to burn, call for the fire extinguisher of the Holy Spirit.

Shalom