The lead scripture for our meditation yesterday was James 1:19-20. The author recommends swift hearing but a more cautious and slow approach to speaking and acting. There is a humorous way to explain the need to act slowly. One content creator put up a story which I believe was just for the fun of it. He recalled how a man told his wife not to bother to cook as he was going to bring food home from the second wife. The man indeed showed up at home with take-away packs in hand only to be clubbed down by his wife. He landed in the hospital. It turns out that there is a restaurant by the name THE SECOND WIFE RESTAURANT. So when the man told the wife that she should not cook because food would come from the second wife, he was referring to the restaurant. Unfortunately, the wife thought he was referring to a mistress somewhere.
We hardly see all the facts when we are enraged…Most of the things we react angrily to will probably be waved off as inconsequential if only we can wait a little.
Well, even though that was written on a lighter note, we have seen where impulsive acts have destroyed things. Unknown to David that Ziba lied against Mephibosheth, David in anger conceded all the land of Saul’s family to him. When the truth came to light, he could only redress that half-way. In an impulsive moment, the king banished Vashti forever. We hardly see all the facts when we are enraged. That is why our text says a man with discretion will defer his anger. Most of the things we react angrily to will probably be waved off as inconsequential if only we can wait a little.
