Keeping Cool

Read Proverbs 29

An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.

Proverbs 29:22

“Hot-tempered” describes a person who reacts quickly and badly. A hot temper leaves no time for questions, reconsideration, different perspectives, or changes of heart. This kind of character assumes the worst before the best. How many ways can an angry person mess up? Today’s proverb tells us that such people get into “all kinds of sin.”

Compare the ill-tempered person with Jesus. What were the occasions for his anger? His anger did not add to the evil in a circumstance. He used his angry emotions as a red flag signaling that something was not right.

If we hesitate before acting on our angry feelings, we can avoid fights and quarrels. By modeling ourselves after Jesus, we can handle anger in a way that does not cause us to sin.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Uncontrolled emotions lead to disaster.

Today, Lord, I will hesitate before losing my cool. I don’t want to fight or sin against you.