the True Superman

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to
listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring
about the righteous life that God desires."
- James 1:19,20

A few days ago, I was watching the local news and a man had been killed over a fight about a scratch on a car. In my head I was thinking, "Really, a scratch? Com'on, that's the silliest thing I've every heard!". The car was a porsche (expensive!) and the owner confronted the guy who scratched his car. The guy wouldn't pay and hit the porsche owner, which started a fight. I don't want to get into to much detail, so all in all the one who ended up dead was the guy who scratched the porsche. All this over a SCRATCH! Talk about how far anger can take you!



Now as believers, in the midst of a trial we need to be swift to listen, slow to speak, and even slower to become angry. A man killed over a car scratch; it wasn't WORTH IT! If we get angry under a difficult circumstance, the righteousness of God won't be evident in our lives. When someone wrongs us, the natural reaction is to retaliate. But this response does not glorify God. Holding one's tongue, trying to understand the other person's position, and leaving vindication to God demonstrates goldly love in tense situations. Wow. Now I understand what James was talking about when he said we need to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry! Everything we do needs to glorify God. If we are seen angry, then it's not going to seem obvious that we are Christian. Like Jesus said, we need to be Christ-like. I seek you Lord, I trust you!