Read: Proverbs 20:1–15
Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 3–5; Luke 20:1–26
It is to one’s honor to avoid strife. Proverbs 20:3
One morning in Perth, Australia, Fionn Mulholland discovered his
car was missing. That’s when he realized he had mistakenly parked in a
restricted zone and his car had been towed away. After considering the
situation—even the $600 towing and parking fine—Mulholland was
frustrated, but he decided not to be angry with the person he would work
with to retrieve his car. Instead of venting his feelings, Mulholland
wrote a humorous poem about the situation and read it to the worker he
met at the tow yard. The worker liked the poem, and a possible ugly
confrontation never took place.
The book of Proverbs teaches, “It is to one’s honor to avoid
strife” (20:3). Strife is that friction that either simmers under the
surface or explodes in the open between people who disagree about
something.
God has given us the resources to live peacefully with other people. His Word assures us that it’s possible to feel anger without letting it boil over into rage (Eph. 4:26). His Spirit
enables us to override the sparks of fury that prompt us to do and say
things to strike out at people who upset us. And God has given us His example
to follow when we feel provoked (1 Peter 2:23). He is compassionate,
gracious, and slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (Ps.
86:15).
Dear God, Please help me to manage my anger in a way that does not lead me into sin. Give me self-control through the power of Your Holy Spirit.
Be slow to anger.
© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries
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