My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight.
James 1: 19-20
I am ashamed to say, there have been many times in my life, I have done just the opposite of what we are told to do in this scripture. I have been way too quick to speak, and way too slow at listening. I have also let the anger boil up inside of me to erupt in a way that is anything but Christlike.
Jesus was always the perfect example. He always weighed His words before He spoke. When the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, they asked Jesus, “Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such a women. So what do you say?” Jesus knew that they were testing Him. He bent down and wrote in the sand. When He finally did speak, His words were monumental. He said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
The best example of all was when Jesus stood before Pilate, the chief priests and elders, to be falsely accused and sentenced, He said nothing. With His wrath He could have killed them all, but He did not. He went as a willing lamb to the slaughter.
We can truly learn by Christs’ example. We need to stop...listen...then speak only words that are helpful. We need to step back...let our anger subside...then respond in controlled tones. Christ did become angry when He overthrew the money exchangers in the temple, but He never sinned in His anger. How many times can we say the same thing?
Jesus told us that our words matter. “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37
Dear Father, Help me to learn from Christ's example to be slow to speak, slow to anger, and to really listen. Amen
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