An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The DNA Made Me Do It

(Proverbs 15:18 KJV)  A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

As I read this chapter this month, I see a side of this I had not noticed before.  We often run into people who claim they are “wrathful” (hot-tempered NASB) (2534).  The implication is that they cannot control themselves.  This seems to see it differently.  This seems to say that this guy “stirs up” (1624) “strife” (4066) rather than being stirred up by it.

This verse would imply that even people with a temper have a choice.  Perhaps an uncontrolled temper is more conditioning than nature.  I am not trying to make a hard and fast rule but I have always wondered why two people can respond totally differently to the same situation.  It would also explain why some people when they come to know Jesus are able to dump their temper.

So?  Do you have a temper?  Is it lack of discipline or DNA?  Ask Jesus, but you need to ask with honesty.  Don’t get mad if the answer is not what you want to hear.

2 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

No, I didn't dump my temper. In fact, it got worse for a while, as I saw what some "Christian" folks will do to one another. It's taken me a long time to get to where I am now, and without the Lord's help, I wouldn't be here yet.

Pumice said...

There is a place and time for anger specially in the face of hypocrisy and evil. Don't lose all of it, you might fail to write something you should.

Grace and peace.