Don’t Lose It

(Proverbs 15:18 KJV)  A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

Sin is often a distortion of a blessing from God.  Thus appetite can become gluttony.  A desire for intimacy can become lust.  Hard work can become greed.  Another form of sin is when we take qualities that are reserved for God and apply them to ourselves.  Here the KJV gives us more clarity in the translation when it talks about “wrath” (2534) instead of the “hot-tempered” of the NASB.  Although Proverbs does not seem to use it this way, the word refers to the wrath of God.  It does have the idea of hot.  God is capable of wrath without sinning.  Men don’t tend to know the line between righteous indignation and sinful anger. 

So?  This kind of strong emotional reaction is out of bounds for us.  Yes, we will experience moments of anger but as followers of Jesus we are not to allow it to get a hold in our hearts.  It is much more satisfying to rage than to turn the other cheek but understand, we are not given that option.