“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he
who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city,” (Proverbs 16:32).
Anger is often an attempt to
control a situation; this in turn means that it is often an attempt to control
people. It is not others whom we should be concerned with controlling, but
rather ourselves. Our eyes deceive us if we think that the mightier person gets
his own way, just as they deceive if we think that the general who captures a
city is mightier than the person of reflection and peace.
What is that which is carried
into eternity? A conquered city or a quiet spirit? What do I want to be
embedded in my character as I cross that last river of life on this planet – a root
of anger or a soul at rest? Which is it that draws from the nature of our Lord
Jesus? Anger which seeks its own way and strives to dominate others; or the
wisdom above which expresses itself in peace toward all mankind?
Behold the mighty conqueror
who has subjugated cities and nations; we hail great generals and shower
parades and accolades upon them. Mighty
they may be, but not so mighty as that woman or man or child who has learned
the way of peace in the spirit and soul. The conqueror or general can possess
land and money and power but for a season; but the spirit abiding in the Prince
of Peace is possessed by Him, and possesses Him, for eternity.
Show me not a map of the great
conquests of history, show me the map of a soul and spirit conquered by the peace
of Christ, show me a man who has not conquered others but rather who has been
conquered by Christ, and then we will see a man who under the lordship of
Christ is slow to anger.
If we cannot rule that which
is within us, how can we influence, let alone rule, let alone lead, that which
is without us?
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