A wise Christian is one who listens to God and obeys and who listens to others, carefully considers what he hears, and then answers with cautiously chosen words. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. He said, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James taught believers not only to listen to God’s Word but to put it into practice. Over and again, the Bible extols the benefits of cultivating patience and controlling anger: “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11, ESV).Īs we start to understand why we should be slow to anger, we can begin practicing patience in our relationships. Proverbs 16:32 affirms, “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (ESV). In the New International Version, Proverbs 14:29 says, “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” The English Standard Version uses “slow to anger” in place of “patient.” The New Living Translation states, “People with understanding control their anger a hot temper shows great foolishness.” When we learn to control our temper and curb foolish fits of anger, we show that we’ve gained great understanding. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).Īnother word meaning “slow to anger” is patient. The ability to quiet contention and live in harmony with others is a priceless virtue. But the man who is calm and slow to anger is one who averts arguments and stops quarreling. The hot-tempered man in Proverbs 15:18 is literally “a man of wrath.” Such a man is quick-tempered or easily enraged. The Bible has so much to say about being slow to anger that we’d be remiss if we didn’t take a careful look. Slowness to anger is one of the attributes of God: “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” (Psalm 145:8). Proverbs 15:18 counsels, “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention” (ESV).
When we practice being patient – being long tempered – we’re practicing love.Understanding why we should be slow to anger is one of the most valuable lessons we can learn in the Christian life. When we’re patient – when we gloss over any misgivings we may have about a person’s intent or even any unfortunate outbursts – we communicate that they’re worth it. But when we’re patient – when we’re willing to stick with them through any hardships or misfortunes they’re facing – we communicate that we’re with them. When we’re quick tempered or have a “short fuse” with others we leave doubt in their mind that we truly love them. 13 – because our temper is one of the most basic ways we express ourselves to others.
It’s significant that μακροθυμέω was the first adjective Paul used in his love defining chapter – 1 Cor. And it also brings to mind someone who displays restraint when they are stirred to anger – someone who is slow to punish, slow to avenge, and slowly bears the offenses and injuries from others. μακροθυμέω is a combination of two Greek words meaning “long” and “temper ” it literally means “long-tempered.” It carries with it the ideas of being consistent and enduring through hardships and misfortunes – being someone who doesn’t easily lose heart.
But the word in the New Testament often translated as patient in our English Bibles is the Greek word μακροθυμέω (makrothyméō), and it has a slightly different meaning. Often when we think of the word patient we think of waiting for someone or something. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with these values, they’re not the most judicious expressions of love – love is patient. Have you ever wished you had an un-send button on an email? Have you ever blushed when you realized that your wittiness was harsh or your quick reaction was reckless? As Christians, we have to be discerning in a culture that values speed and efficiency.
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