God’s Wisdom for Controlling Our Anger - 12/17/2023

Most people can control their anger, but every now and then we lose control of our temper. James informs us of God’s wisdom when it comes to how we can control our anger (James 1:19, 20).

James says we need to be “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.” When we are able to do this, he says we will “achieve the righteousness of God.” While these are three simple things we can do to control our anger, they are very hard to practice at times.

Frequently we are doing just the opposite. We are not willing to listen to other people. We want to be fast to say something without really considering all the circumstances. And, as a result we are very prompt to speak whatever comes to our mind, which usually is not the most prudent, kind or compassionate thing to say. So, if Christians want to reach a type of behavior that will be associated with God’s righteousness, then they must do these three things.

The word “quick” has the meaning of being prompt or swift. To be “quick to hear” would indicate that we not only want to hear the audible sound waves going across our eardrum, but also we have the desire to give consideration and seek to understand what we are being told.

The phrase “slow to speak” indicates that one is going to take some time before they are going to utter some sound from their mouth. It would also indicate that a person is delaying in using words to express one’s mind or one’s thought. Often times, this will greatly reduce the anger a person has with a situation, circumstance or a person.

The word “slow” in the phrase “slow to anger” has the same meaning as used in the phrase “slow to speak.” The word “anger” is that strong feeling of displeasure or hostility we may have toward a situation, circumstance or person. So being “slow to anger” would have the idea of not expressing that feeling and over time there would be less and less things causing us to have those feelings of displeasure and hostility.

James says when we are able to do these things we will “achieve the righteousness of God.” This means that we will be reacting to situations, circumstances and people in the way that God would be reacting.

While controlling our anger can at times be very difficult, it nonetheless is something that can be accomplished. It is not impossible. The determining factor will be how strong our desire is to be using God’s wisdom in this aspect of our efforts to be living God’s way. - cgm

Scriptural quotations from the NASB1995.