DEVOTION – DAY 332

James 1:19-20 “Do Not Give In To Anger”

James 1:19-20 “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.”

Have you ever witnessed someone give in to their anger and lost control of themselves? I am sure many of you have either seen someone lose control of their temper or perhaps you have lost your own temper and given in to anger and rage. I know someone who had an argument with her sister-in-law. As the argument escalated, her brother came along and sided with his wife. In the heat of the argument, her brother slapped her. She was so shocked and hurt that she has yet to forgive her brother or her sister-in-law even though some years have passed since the argument took place. This is the result, when we allow anger to take a hold of us. It does not produce the righteousness that God wants in us. That is why James urges us to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. Had this woman been quick to listen to her sister-in-law’s point of view, she might not have let the argument get out of hand. Had her own brother been quick to listen to both his wife and his sister’s point of view, he might have been the peacemaker between his wife and sister. Instead, he ended up making matters worse by getting angry himself and damaging their relationships. Instead of peace, there is brokenness and regret.

This incident taught the woman to take better control of her anger. At work, one of her suppliers had promised delivery of some goods she had ordered. But on the promised date of delivery, the goods were not delivered. She called her supplier and she was about to scold them for failing to keep to their promises. But she remembered the need to control her temper, so she asked her supplier why he failed to deliver the goods as promised. She decided to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to give in to her anger. She listened to the reasons and explanations of her supplier for failing to make the delivery. She realized that there were circumstances that were beyond the supplier’s control and she agreed to give him additional time to fulfill the order. She realized that by not giving in to her initial desire to show anger, she had a better outcome in terms of her relationship with others.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, just as you are slow to anger and quick to forgive us, please help us to also be quick to listen and forgive, slow to speak and slow to anger in all our relationships with others. We pray this in the gracious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

1. How have you allowed anger in the past to hurt your relationship with others? What impact did it have on the others as a result of your inability to control your temper? Share.
2. What steps have you taken to bring your anger under control?
3. How has this helped in your relationships with others?
4. Why is anger so destructive? Discuss.