My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…
Once more we return to this amazing passage of scripture. It looks like a simple sentence on the surface, but as we dive into the text we find that every word is a gemstone in its own right. The value of these gems is magnified by the fact that they were written by the half brother of Jesus. A man who grew up knowing Jesus as his older brother and who did not believe in him or appreciate him until after Jesus rose from the dead and spoke with him.
Because of this life experience, James has special insight. He spent all his time living with the Son of God being slow to listen and quick to speak. Now he knows better. Besides, he knows one more thing: Be slow to become angry…
Anger is a secondary emotion. People don’t just become angry to be angry. Anger is a response to being hurt, whether that hurt is perceived or real. If we are quick to listen and slow to speak, it is easier to avoid becoming angry because we avoid situations that hurt. Keep in mind that hurt is not always caused by someone else. Have you ever stubbed your toe? That hurts! In the same way, we can metaphorically stub our toe, step on our foot, or bang our thumb by speaking out of turn. So anger isn’t just something that is a reaction to someone else.
The problem with anger is that it magnifies our response to hurt. Anger lashes out. Anger attacks. Anger wants to hurt others. Like a single match can start a forest burning, so can an inappropriate word set off anger that sets off more anger.
The trick to avoiding anger is to buffer our emotions from hurt. James tells us to listen. Not half-hearted, in a way that is prone to misunderstanding, but with interest. Listen! If we will do this we are more likely to understand and less likely to be offended.
In the same way, another trick to avoiding anger is to avoid stubbing our metaphorical toe. Being slow to speak, we are able to think first, then talk. To use a modern metaphor, don’t push the SEND button in the heat of the moment.
Emotions are hard to control. They sneak up on us and take over the steering wheel of our minds. They can stomp on the gas and throw us into a spin before we know what happened. The best defense is to avoid the triggers that set off emotion. James gives us some wonderful timeless advice on how to do that.
Application: Practice listening today. Pause before speaking. Pay attention to your feelings and see if these two techniques help keep anger under control.
Food for Thought: Why does James say be ”slow to anger” instead of ”don’t ever get angry?”
Good devotion brother. I think you hit on it well. Anger is an emotion. Some anger could even be righteous if it is anger at injustice toward another, etc. So anger itself is not so much the problem as our response to it. Being slow to anger and not sinning in our anger seems like the correct response (Ephesians 4:26-27)
Anger draws out a reaction, and just as we should be careful with our words, we should be careful with our actions. Hopefully we can use the time to react as Jesus would react. Otherwise, we might be turning over money exchanging tables left and right.
Rob,
The mental picture of you and the money changers is making me smile! Thanks!!
Quick to listen and slow to anger. We need to get the facts straight and have understanding to others, situations all sorts of factors. We shouldn’t be judging or jumping to conclusions. Remember hate the sin not the sinner.