Wise Restraint in God 属神的明智克制
Dexu Xia
Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them. Proverbs 29:20
Today's Scripture Proverbs 29:4-11, 20
Today's Insights Proverbs 29 cautions us to restrain and overcome our anger. “The wise turn away anger” (v. 8), whereas “fools give full vent to their rage” (v. 11). An angry person inevitably “stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins” (v. 22). Unrestrained anger resulted in humanity’s first murder. God warned Cain to rein in his anger lest he be consumed by it. Succumbing to his anger, Cain killed his own brother in cold blood (Genesis 4:6-8). Moses, another classic example, killed an Egyptian taskmaster in a moment of rage (Exodus 2:11-12). Years later, angered by the Israelites’ persistent grumblings, Moses disobeyed and dishonored God and unsympathetically disparaged God’s people by striking the rock (Numbers 20:1-13). The psalmist says that “they made Moses angry, and he spoke foolishly” (Psalm 106:33 nlt). Indeed, “A quick-tempered person does foolish things” (Proverbs 14:17). Paul warns, “Don’t sin by letting anger control you . . . for anger gives a foothold to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27).
Today's Devotional Following the South’s catastrophic loss at Gettysburg in the American Civil War (1863), General Robert E. Lee led his battered troops back to Southern territory. Heavy rains flooded the Potomac River, blocking his retreat. President Abraham Lincoln urged General George Meade to attack. But Meade’s men were just as weary as Lee’s. He rested his troops. Lincoln picked up his quill and wrote a letter in which he confessed he was “distressed immeasurably” at Meade’s reluctance to pursue Lee. On the envelope are these words in the president’s handwriting: “To Gen. Meade, never sent, or signed.” And indeed, it never was. Long before Lincoln, another great leader grasped the importance of reining in our emotions. Anger, no matter how justified, is a dangerously powerful force. “Do you see someone who speaks in haste?” King Solomon asked. “There is more hope for a fool than for them” (Proverbs 29:20). Solomon knew that “by justice a king gives a country stability” (v. 4). He also understood that “fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end” (v. 11). And in the end, not sending that letter prevented Lincoln from demoralizing his top general, helped win a necessary war, and contributed to the healing of a nation. We do well to learn from examples like his of wise restraint.
Reflect & Pray Why is it important to cautiously give vent to your emotions? How will you do this the next time you’re angry?
Father, I give my emotions to You so that Your Spirit will help me avoid speaking in haste.
你看到语言急躁的人吗？愚昧人比他更有指望。箴言 29:20
今日读经 箴言章29:4-11节，20 节
今日心得 箴言 29章告诫我们要克制和克服愤怒。“智慧人止息怒气”（8节），而“愚昧人怒气全发”（11 节）。愤怒的人不可避免地“挑起争端，暴躁的人多有罪”（22节）。不加节制的愤怒导致人类的第一次谋杀。上帝警告该隐要控制他的愤怒，否则他会被它吞噬。该隐屈服于愤怒，冷血地杀死了自己的兄弟（创世记 4:6-8）。另一个典型的例子是摩西，他在一时愤怒中杀死了一位埃及监工（出埃及记 2:11-12）。多年后，摩西被以色列人持续不断的抱怨激怒，结果，他选择不尊重不顺从上帝，毫无同情心地击打磐石，并诋毁上帝的子民（民数记 20:1-13）。诗篇作者说：“他们惹摩西发怒，他就说愚昧的话”（诗篇 106:33）。的确，“性情暴躁的人做愚昧的事”（箴言 14:17）。保罗警告说：“生气却不要犯罪，不可含怒到日落，以致给魔鬼留地步。”（以弗所书 4:26-27）。
今日灵修 在美国内战（1863年）中南方在葛底斯堡惨败后，罗伯特·李将军率领他伤痕累累的部队返回南方领地。大雨淹没了波托马克河，阻挡了撤退路线。亚伯拉罕·林肯总统敦促乔治·米德将军进攻。但米德的士兵和李将军的士兵一样疲惫不堪。他让部队休息。林肯拿起羽毛笔写了一封信，在信中他承认，米德不愿追击李将军让他“无比苦恼”。信封上有总统的笔迹：“致米德将军”，但事实上，此信从未寄出或签名。早在林肯之前，另一位伟大的领导，所罗门王，就明白了控制情绪的重要性。无论多么合理，愤怒都是一股危险的强大力量。“你看见说话急躁的人吗？”所罗门王问道。“愚昧人比他更有指望”（箴言 29:20）。所罗门知道“君王用公平使国泰民安”（4节）。他还明白“愚昧人怒气全发，智慧人忍气含怒”（11节）。 最后，那封没有寄出的信，使林肯避免了打击他的高级将领的士气，帮助赢得了一场必要的战争，并为一个国家的康复做出了贡献。我们应该从他明智克制的例子中学习。
反思与祈祷 为什么谨慎地发泄情绪很重要？下次你生气时会怎么做？
天父，我把我的情绪交给你，这样圣灵就会帮助我避免说急躁的话。