“Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength.”
ERIC HOFFER

“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” PROVERBS 16:32 NASB

As I came across this proverb of Solomon today, I reflect on my past and myself. “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty.” This lesson I find that I am still learning. As I look back I can see where anger was a survival tool, or so I thought it to be. When I was a teenager hanging out on the streets of Kansas City in the early sixties, anger was one of the mediums of _expression. It seemed to be accepted if someone was uptight, even if it was not justified. Then when I got drafted into the Army, my anger was refined, controlled, and pointed in a specific direction. It was still accepted if kept within the bounds of military use. My problems with anger in my life came after I returned from Vietnam. The next fifteen years were spent not really knowing what this raging fire within me was all about. Oh I got involved with the Flower Children of the sixties and claimed that love and peace were the answers to all life’s problems, but that had to be only on the surface because anger still would show up at times and be completely in control. In control out of control might be a better way to describe it. The next part of the proverb referring to ruling my spirit is directly proportional to my level of anger. I would like to point out here that Solomon did not say that anger was bad or evil, but that quick anger is a weakness. Some anger, not violence, has been used in the business world for an individual to be more competitive, and produce a better product. The apostle Paul said in the Book of Ephesians to be angry and sin not. Anger is an emotion that people will experience from time to time, it’s how we handle it that is of importance. I am learning that my anger has no right to hurt anyone in any way. I must rule my spirit. What a life long everyday job that has turned out to be. He who rules his spirit is better than he who captures a city. I am reminded of reading about Alexander the Great who at the young age in his early thirties, had captured and controlled for Greece, most of the known western and eastern world. He died of alcohol poisoning in his thirties, he could not conquer his own spirit. Being a delivered recovering alcoholic, I realize today that I cannot afford the luxury of anger. I must resolve any anger quickly to keep it from growing and becoming a festering open wound. Solomon’s family life might not have been the best example for us to use, and his worship of God later in his life might not have been one of our better examples, but he did live in peace. I think that he understood the consequences of hasty anger in a person’s life. Today with the reading of the Word of God, and the presence of the Holy Spirit I find help in putting out the raging fire of anger that is within. God is doing for me, something, that in past times I could not do for myself…………JRE

“May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.”
NUMBERS 6:24-26 TLB