…not quick-tempered…
Summary: Paul’s letter compares things we should not do with things a believer should do. We then look at the first “not” on Paul’s list. A godly person, one who is qualified to be an overseer, is not quick-tempered.
As we work our way through Paul’s letter to Titus, I am tempted to gloss over the “nots” in verse seven. Paul is describing all the things an overseer of a church body should not be.
In this verse and the next, Paul sets up two contrasting pictures of people with different attitudes toward others. In a sense, what Paul has set up is a kind of balance beam scale. He is leading us along our journey from being earthly to being godly.
Using this scale for self-examination, we can put our tendency toward each of these traits on one side of the scale or the other. Then we can watch and see how it all balances out. Are we in the middle, or do we lean to one side?
This first “not” is about our temper. Paul does not say that people should not have a temper. He tells us that the Christian ideal is to avoid being quick-tempered.
Why is this?
The Old Testament is full of references to an “angry” God. One example is the anger God felt after leading the Israelites to the Promised Land only to have them reject it.
“The Lord’s anger burned against Israel and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone.” (Numbers 32:13)
So if God gets angry, and we are made in God’s image, doesn’t it make sense that we would get angry, too?
Yes, it does. But there is a difference between us and God. God’s anger is not an emotional response stemming from frustration. God’s anger is a consequence of disobedience and rejecting His will. James put it this way:
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1: 19-20)
Like God, when our human will is opposed, there is a consequence. Unlike God, our human will is not founded in perfect love and righteousness. Human anger can be appropriate when it reflects God’s righteousness and is couched in His love. Yet this type of anger is very slow to come about and very quick to forgive.
Application: It is important to be aware of the difference between human anger and God’s anger.
Food for Thought: How should a believer respond to feelings of anger?
Thank you for another great devotional.
Jesus had feelings of anger, yet He did not sin. We likewise should deal with our anger in ways that do not lead to sin. Not an easy task. The verses you used are excellent. One other I would add here is Ephesians 4: 26 – 27: “In your anger do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Here we see that we should deal with our anger and not let it fester. We should have a healthy outlet so we do not sin in our anger. And we should not allow the evil one room in our heart to use our anger to set up shop to do his will.
One tool we have is forgiveness. We can pray for those who do us harm and forgive them as the Lord has forgiven us. I notice that when I pray for people, God often changes my heart toward them. (Ephesians 4: 31 – 32; Matthew 5: 21 – 24, 43 – 45).
Rich,
Thank you! The passage you quote is interesting because it suggests that anger is the gateway for the devil to enter in.
Righteous anger! Anger is such a beautiful thing when it’s Godly, righteous and used in the appropriate way. Used wrongly it definitely gets us in trouble and causes often unrepairable damage. But, used rightly it generates amazing power to fight against the evils that want to consume us. Being slow to anger in church leadership is essential. But showing anger over injustice and abuses and the devil’s work is not wrong either!
Ben,
Thank you! Your comment made me think of Numbers 20, where Moses strikes the rock instead of speaking to it. If Moses couldn’t manage anger properly, can any of us really hope to?
Good point Ben. Righteous anger is… righteous.
Thank you, Rich.
It is a good point. I’m just looking at it through the lens of my own shortcomings. Thank you!
Well,..if we have Jesus in us,..really,.. we shouldn’t get angry since He gives us a peace that is beyond understanding,..He gave us a spirit of love,..don’t get me wrong I agree with the above because I have became angry before as well,..but Jesus dampens the urge to get angry,..alot of things seem to just kinda roll off my shoulders sort of speak,..I don’t let things get to me as much as I used to,..I don’t worry,..because as I have found out,..God has predestined all of this,..including my anger for me to learn from,..that’s maybe why it reads to be slow to anger,..He knows it will happen,..I believe He wants us to be aware so that when it arises we will have enough sense from before not to let it happen or get to us again,..that is if we have learned anyting from the time before,..
Jesus made it clear,..he who has ears to hear,..let him hear,..if He told me to be slow to get angry,..then I had better pay attention and do what He say’s,..I am still listening and learning,..
Thanks guys for all this theology for me to add to my porfolio of theology,..good stuff
How should a believer respond to feelings of anger?
Jonah at Nineveh, chapter 4, and grumbling in Matthew 20:1-13 both show how our human side DOES conflict with Gods will, and of course we get angry. Today I believe we should quickly go to our Lord when we feel anger raising. Turn from “our thoughts” and seek understanding from God. Turn from the source of confusion and to the source of reason, understanding.
Turn to God knowing He is the source of all righteousness and far more aware of human character, and the degree of habitual sin throughout this world. Remember Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:22, if we call our brother a fool, we are guilty enough to go into the fiery hell, Matthew 5:27-28, lust in your and you have committed adultery in your heart. Sin is growing at an unimaginable rate, it is not always seen, and all who seek a righteous life are being held up as the major barrier to a no restrictions, all out do as you please world.
At the same time all believers live and worship as we please, some are harshly persecuted by the ungodly. God is with each of His people and His will is being done. To live in the peace of God, turn off the TV news, leave the online news unread and spend time with God. Share the love of God with our families and experience the peace He offers. Allow him to use us to minister to the unsaved or the faltering believer in whatever way He wants to use us.
Jesus has shown us there is a time for righteous anger, and I believe the exception of this acts against sins against God are reserved for Him and only Him.
Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-46; John 2:13-1
Another vote for righteous anger….
Not to be confused with self-selfrighteous …
Passion for what God desires
Good comments. And Jeff – I hear you. Righteous anger is … righteous. But too often I am not righteous.
I think being angry about 62 million babies aborted with no voice can be a righteous anger. The horrors of sex trafficking can lead to a righteous anger etc…
Where I can run into trouble is how I respond to that anger. I can hate politicians who use this issue to get power. Or I can pray for their salvation and be angry at the enemy’s lies that entangle people.
In your anger, do not sin. And be slow to anger when personally offended. But when being a voice for the oppressed, let the anger motivate us to righteous actions. There is a balance there somewhere.