Wednesday, June 15, 2011

June 15th – Proverbs 15: Calm or Chaos?

“A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.” – Proverbs 15:18

I’ve read this proverb many times before and I think that I am just now seeing what its saying! This Proverb could be translated; An angry man that is poisoned with rage meddles with and stirs up strife and discord, but a man who is patient and long suffering brings a sense of calm and settles a controversy wherever he goes.

The hot tempered man brings that atmosphere wherever he goes. He can walk into a room and suddenly strife and controversy will appear. If there is dissension or unease under the surface, he brings it to the forefront. As I read this, I am thinking of a couple people I have known in my life that had this affect wherever they went. You could be in a group of people and everyone could be getting along just fine until this person walks in. Suddenly the atmosphere in the room is charged with controversy and before you know it, sides have formed and the peace that was once there has long since retreated. I’ve worked on many teams, from home groups to worship teams to ministry teams and the person with anger in their heart manifests anger in their relationships.

In the same way, the person who is patient and long suffering can step into a room or heated situation charged with anger and bring calm. The same calm that abides in their spirits manifests in the room! It’s always been my desire to be that kind of person, as I have seen the power of this proverb in action. Patience and long suffering benefits the person who has it as well as everyone that person comes in contact with. In the same way, the short tempered and angry person suffers in their anger, but they also bring others into that same suffering! Basically, we bring others into the atmosphere that we carry in our spirits. If we are at peace, we bring peace wherever we go. If we are depressed and anxious, we bring that stuff with us!

Now, there is a time and place for controversy and confrontation, but the purpose is always restoration! People that never confront anything normally have LOTS of gnarly stuff going on just beneath the surface. But people that are always stirring up controversy and debate without ever getting a resolve are just a problem.

LIFE LESSON:
What do YOU bring to a situation? Calm or Chaos?

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