Gripe, gripe, gripe. As I look at my week I remember coming out of a meeting fuming and fussing at what I had been forced to endure. Last week I remember coming out of a meeting and making it very obvious that I was unhappy. I hate to admit it, but according to this I have been demonstrating a “fool’s” (191) response. I guess Proverbs isn’t always supposed to make us feel better.
A companion verse I notice is in verse 23,
(Proverbs 12:23 KJV) A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.“Vexation” (3708a) is easy to show. It would seem that showing it is bad. It marks us as a fool. When people get to us we are to hide it.
But wisdom is more than hiding what we feel. The NASB translates this “vexation” which misses the nuance of anger. This is not just being annoyed, it is being annoyed to the point of anger. I think that wisdom means not only more self control but a prospective that helps us rise above petty irritations.
Were the abuses I had to sit through worth getting angry over? Maybe, maybe not. If I don’t want to be a fool I need to show more self control and discipline.
So? There are times when we need to get upset and be public about it. Don’t waste your credibility by becoming known as the guy with the short fuse and pathetic bang.
3 comments:
Anger used to be a real issue with me too, Pumice; sometimes it still is. I've made a lot of headway on it though, and I bet you have, too.
I have anger issues with inanimate objects. For example, a farmer steals ground from be I get mildly annoyed and then I bust my knuckles with a wrench and I go ballistic.
I have to work on it...
The other bit of wisdom you referred to is keeping your mouth shut.
I tend to talk too much.
People don't need to hear about your problems, why are you telling them?
Am I trying to manipulate sympathy for my cause?
You know they are either happy you have problems, or just want more gossip material to spread around the neighborhood.
Just because someone stands around and talks to you for an hour doesn't mean they are your friend. It just means they like to talk.
Expressing your frustrations can come back to haunt you.
Good post!
Gorges, I am probably making more progress than I think. Sometimes we are our worst critics.
Bud, It sounds like you have been reading my mind. Usually I realize I have said too much after the deed is done.
Thanks for the insights.
Grace and peace
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