“A fool’s wrath is quickly and openly known, but a prudent man ignores an insult.” (Proverbs 12:16) In our generation, it is usually easy to discover what is bothering people. Instead of learning the power of a quiet spirit and prudence, we’ve become a nation of fools who place their anger on display for all to see. The recent presidential election has certainly brought out a herd of fools, and they exist on both ends of the political spectrum.
I remember learning a poem in Mrs. Davidson’s English class in junior high. I don’t know why but a couple of the lines from the poem “If”, by Rudyard Kipling, have stuck with me after all these years. The opening line says, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you.” And the poem ends with these words, “You’ll be a man—my son!” Did you catch that? If you can stay calm in the midst of the insanity of others, you’ll be mature.
The Lord doesn’t want us to give unthoughtful and unwise reactions to the ungodly temperament of others. As believers, our highest calling is to reflect Christ to all around us—even to those who strongly disagree with us. Jesus is in the redeeming business. He needs ambassadors to proclaim and defend His eternal message of salvation by grace through faith. He doesn’t need men and women who are violent in temper while attempting to proclaim the humility of Christ. We make a mockery out of the gospel, out of our testimony, and out of Jesus when we do so.
Jesus did not die to make us politically correct. He did not die so we could be divided by race or skin color. Instead, He died to set our hearts free from being a fool. There is nothing wrong with standing for what is right, or being bold enough to stand against what we know is wrong or evil. However, whenever we allow our attitude become vengeful because of what we feel is the ‘right thing’, we become wrong in the midst of being right. What a shame!
One of the most important signs of spiritual maturity is the ability to ignore insults. When we are young in Christ, we have a tendency to be loud-mouthed, impetuous and opinionated. Most of us, including myself, would have benefited from having duct tape placed over our mouth until we had time to deal with the arrogant response flowing from our hearts. We are so busy trying to be right that we forget to be loving.
Perhaps Jesus has placed contrary folks in our path just so we can learn what reactions are lying within us. Only grace will change a man’s heart. Fire will not put out fire, but a cool shower of rain will. Likewise, wrath can not put out wrath, but a cool shower of grace can. Ignore insults, and flee from… A Fool’s Wrath!
