“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” (Prov. 16:32)
Anger is something we all have to deal with from time to time but there are some who seem to live life with a short fuse. They could explode at any moment and anything can set them off! John Hunter (a physiologist who had a severe heart condition) said, “My life is at the mercy of the person who can make me angry.”
Thankfully, God’s Word gives us 6 ways in which we can control a quick temper.
1. Think First, Talk Later
Prov. 14:29 says, “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding (he thinks things through): but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” If you look back at the times you have gotten angry, you will probably see that many of those things were not really worth getting angry about. It is usually little things that we blow up into big things.
2. Keep Your Lips Zipped
“A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards” (Prov. 29:11). Many times our problem is that we throw our tongue in gear while our brain is still in neutral! Just because something comes to your mind doesn’t mean it must come out of your mouth.
3. Look Up and Look Over
“The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression” (Prov. 19:11). In other words, don’t waste time killing flies with sledgehammers! Solomon is saying that, when someone does you wrong, sometimes the question is not “Are you big enough to do something about it?” but “Are you big enough NOT to do something about it?” Are you a big enough person to let some things go?
4. Walk Slow but Run Fast
“A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife” (Prov. 15:18). Solomon is saying that when you know you are headed for the house of anger, be slow to get there and even slower to go in.
5. Talk Softly and Carry A Small Stick
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Prov. 15:1). They say the best way to fight fire is with fire. I don’t know who “THEY” are because when I see the fire-fighters at work, they are fighting fire with water! Solomon is saying that giving a soft answer to harsh words is like pouring cold water onto the fire of a hot temper.
6. Be Good or Be Gone
“Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul” (Prov. 22:24-25). You will become like the people you spend time with. If you hang around an angry person, you will soon become an angry person yourself.
Nobody can make you angry without your consent. We need God’s help to ensure we maintain a long fuse!