DEVOTION
PROVERBS
THE VIRTUE
OF PATIENCE
Prov 16:32
32 Better a
patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a
city.
NIV
It would
appear it is far easier to conquer an enemy without then one that is within.
There are records of historic figures who conquered great lands, but who were
men filled with such passions they were unable to control, killing even their
best of friends in the process. Surely our uncontrolled passions do not result
in the death of friends but they certainly can create a whole lot of hurt to
them. If we cannot control our temper we have given up on the divine influence
upon us and given in to self instead. It is good to have passion, to have
spirit, to have an exuberant personality for the purpose of serving the Lord,
but if we allow that personality to overpower us for the purpose of self-gain,
self-satisfaction, or self-gratification, then we have lost everything. Our
words and actions of passion are a result of the condition of our heart. What
we say and do is a result of our ability to control of temper. Even in an
external battle a warrior filled with passion who wheels his sword out of
control will eventually be killed. A thinking warrior will control his blows
and follow the training in the art of combat. A thinking person will control
his temper, even with all the passion within and will wheel their words with
control and follow their training in the art of righteous. A thinking person
will consider carefully their words so not to harm their friends. It is far
better to speak after then before thinking. In the heat of an argument if we
are out of control we may say words we wish we had never spoken, so we must
consider the virtue of patience, holding our passion in check, holding our
tongue, slipping that bridle on it and thinking before engaging in a war of
words, being patient rather than filled with outbursts of rage.
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