Day 197 - Proverbs 18-20

ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 197 - Proverbs 18-20 (Anger Management)
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       ^"The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, 
        And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
        He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, 
        And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. "
        (Proverbs 19:11; 16:32)

Anger - who has not known it and the devastation it brings?  Countless multitude are its victims, both offended and offender.  It has severed marriages, murdered its objects of wrath, estranged parent and child, and destroyed invaluable properties to name a few of its casualties.  

Those who have tried to conquer anger and failed cannot be numbered.  No wonder Solomon observed that "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city."  Wow, what a noble quest it is to be able to master anger!

Thankfully, Solomon tells us the way to be able to tame anger's ugly head.  He says that the secret is discretion.  Discretion is defined as the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing 

private information.


Solomon points out that one way to practice discretion as it relates to mastering
anger is to overlook a transgression or offense by someone.  Although most 
may think letting an offense pass or go is a sign of weakness, the Bible says that the exact opposite is true.  It is far more difficult to overlook a transgression.

I happened to watch one of my favorite movies entitled Braveheart starring Mel Gibson as William Wallace, the warrior hero of Scottland.  When punched by his best friend who got upset with Willian in their argument in front of their comrades, William did not fight back but let is pass.  Although he could have beaten his friend badly, Willian exercised restrained and discretion and was respected even more by his followers.

There was another person who was no doubt the strongest and bravest and most powerful who ever lived and yet meekly subjected Himself to the ridicule and abuse of his tormentors even though He could have easily called His angels in heaven to kill every single one of them.  You guessed it right, He was the Lord Jesus Christ.

Can you and I garner up enough discretion and self-control to overlook a transgression by another?  Only the strong can.  Are you strong enough?  I believe none of us is and this is why we all need the strength that only God through the Holy Spirit can give us.  Have you received Him in your life yet?