Today’s devotion comes from James 1:19-20.
“This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20.
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Beware of tempting thoughts of “righteous indignation”: “for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” Verse 20. “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger”. Verse 19.
There may be times to be angry. But those times are “the exceptions and not the general rule”. Today’s Scripture does not state: “Never be angry.” But rather, it states: Be “slow to anger”.
There may be other times in Scripture when anger was expressly commanded, but I could only find one time. “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” Ephesians 4:26-27.
The general rule is “the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” The general rule is that “outbursts of anger” is one of the condemned deeds of the flesh. Galatians 5:20.
Notice the command to put aside “all” anger in the following two Scriptures. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” Ephesians 4:31 “But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.” Colossians 3:8
There are severe warnings about the consequences of anger in the Scripture. Here are two examples.
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.” Matthew 5:22
“And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.” James 3:6.
Let us turn our attention to a help to curb “outbursts of anger”. Today’s Scripture exhorts us to “be quick to hear, slow to speak”.
“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19.
But he who restrains his lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19.
“He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.” Proverbs 17:27-28.
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.” Proverbs 17:27-28.
Alas! Who can control the tongue? Who can be “slow to speak”?!
But, there is hope!
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.
The Spirit of God produces this peace, patience, gentleness, and self-control within us. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh (outbursts of anger).” Galatians 5:16.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 