Stroke instead of strike

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

STROKE INSTEAD OF STRIKE

Prov 29:11

11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

NIV

Emotions are a natural element of the human condition. God designed us to have emotions otherwise we would all be nothing more than mindless useless living organisms. Our emotions are what allow us to love, to have compassion, to grieve and to be angry. This emotion of anger is at the center of this proverb. It is foolish to lose control of oneself and give full vent of any anger that is stirred up within us. There is no doubt certain things, or people can stimulate this emotion of anger. Matthew, Mark and John record the time Jesus made a whip and drove out those in the temple who were selling sacrifices and the money changers. Was Jesus filled with anger? It was a righteous indignation regarding their desecration of the house of God. Certainly we could exhibit that kind of anger which would be centered on those who defame the name of God. But even then it would not be right to give full vent to that righteous indignation. However, this proverb deals more with our human anger over being insulted or having our feelings or emotions, hurt. There could be a host of reasons we could be brought to anger, but all of them are centered on our self-concern or what might be called selfishness. If we are always thinking about ourselves, thinking everyone else should act accordingly as to always be doing or saying that which is pleasing to us, then we are certain to be subject to anger.  Unfortunately everything and everyone does not revolve around us. We have to live within a world where people are going to say, or do something which displeases us. What we do with that is the central theme of this proverb. Do we give full vent to that anger? Maybe we could just give half vent to it. Would that not be keeping ourselves under control? No, any venting, any giving forth of our mind because of any amount of anger is foolish. It does not bring any resolution to any relationship, it only heightens or escalates emotion of anger. It is most wise to keep ourselves under control. This does not mean we can harbor or hide our anger within and somehow think we are under control. The control spoken about here has a meaning from the Hebrew word to soothe, to still, to stroke. This would imply that instead of venting, or yelling out in anger, we would soothe over the situation, we would react with stillness, calmness, and give kindness in return, to stroke instead of strike. It may not be within the human realm to accomplish this fully, or even partially. This is why we need to remain in Christ for apart from him we can do nothing, not even fully have self-control. Yet that is one of the fruit of the Spirit and as we give way to the Spirit, which is the wisest to do, we will be able to stroke instead of strike.