My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

James 1:19-20

For Encouragement

In these troublesome times, everything dries up around us quickly. The heat intensifies, and the air boils with upwardly shooting temperatures. One can sense fire at the minimum provocation, and entire homes vanish in seconds. A careless word, a misplaced trust, a betrayal of confidence, compromised integrity—that is all the dry environment needs. Imagine what could happen, when the emergency call does not get the needed rapid response, and the fire truck delays?

If only one person could be less emotional and a little considerate!

Nobody knows how it happened with the Bossmans—how Mrs. Bossman’s mother’s name came up in their conversation. Their lovely lunch in the park that afternoon was great until that minute when Mrs. Bossman took offense. Bedtime prayer that day became difficult. The “Amen” seriously strained out of her. You got it right. The walls on each side of their bed received the best attention from the couple that night. 

The breakfast table had never been quieter the following day. Sadly, little Douglas and his sister got the brunt of it. A razor could have sliced through the atmosphere in the home of the Bossmans in the ensuing day—uncomfortable questions, curt answers, dismissive looks, and withdrawals from each other. 

It has been six months since their lunch date in the park. Yet, nothing has changed. The anger of Mrs. Bossman had lingered too long and picked too many trappings. As she recalled other situations, the heat turned up in her. One careless defensive move by Mr. Bossman and hell finally broke loose. 

“I hate you! Not only do I hate you, I curse the days you became the father of my two children!” said Mrs. Bossman.

That took the wind out of the sail for Mr. Bossman. A few things in a weekend bag, and he was chasing after a hotel reservation. The evening breeze chilled his bones over a lonely dinner in the dimly lit garden of a hotel. He had hardly touched the food before him when a beautiful winked at him from across his table.

How did he get there? Lost in space, Mr. Bossman could not find a landing pad for his thoughts. 

That is the “Beast” for you, my friend. It goes by a very protected name—ANGER! We love that emotion because it pretends to defend us in situations like the Bossmans. With selfishness for support, uncontrolled anger transitions into resentment and hatred. Bitterness grows healthy in such an environment. It takes root and quickly sinks deep into the heart. It ruins beautiful relationships.

Take it from James today. 

“Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:20). 

It is a beast, my friend! Slay it! 

Like a California wildfire, anger can destroy beautiful and expensive homes and relationships. You know what happened when Cain failed to slay that beast and refused to take God’s counsel and admonition (Gen. 4:4-8).

So, in all your conversations and every life situation, “Be quick to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to be angry” (19). And may the Lord adorn you with a garland of grace to restrain that emotion in everything. Amen!