I have been “very smart” in my life, and there have been times when boy-oh-boy was I stupid.
Proverbs 14:29 says, “A patient person is very smart. A quick-tempered person makes stupid mistakes.”
Accumulating stupidity isn’t something that sounds like a “smart” idea to me. Well, that’s what happens when you are quick-tempered.
Me? Have I ever been quick-tempered? Ha! Am I a mother? Then, my answer is “Yes.” I believe I’ve matured in my faith over the years, and it has helped me become less fiery at times. God has a tendency to get a hold of your life, if we allow Him, and mold us to be more like Him.
I just had a random thought…There is a famous phrase from the movie Forest Gump that says, “stupid is as stupid does”, well…if being quick-tempered causes me to make “stupid” mistakes, and most of the time I’m quick-tempered when others have made a “stupid” choice, then…“stupid is as stupid does”.
There are numerous bible verses that deal with being patient and also with being quick-tempered. Here are just a few:
- James 1:19-20, “19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
- Ephesians 4:1-2, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
- Proverbs 15:1, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
The more we grow closer to Christ and desire to be more like Him, the better chance we have at being “very smart”.
Make the smart choice. Grow with God and learn to be patient. Don’t be the one that wears the t-shirt that says, “I’m with Stupid” and the arrow points to yourself. Take a breath, count to ten, close your eyes to visualize something pleasant, say a prayer, whatever it takes to NOT be quick-tempered, do it.
Blessings to you.
May 30