Proverbs 14:29 "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly."
One of the best ways to understand what a proverb is saying is to note what a proverb isn't saying. In this case, the proverb does not read, "he that avoids wrath is of great understanding." Wrath isn't the problem in the proverb; the speed at which one may entertain wrath is the problem.
Wrath is one of those emotions that can be both good and bad. It can be a bad emotion when motivated by selfishness, which is why Paul listed it as a “work of the flesh” in Galatians 5. For this reason, he told the Colossians to "put off" wrath (3:8) and he told the Ephesians to "put away" wrath (4:31). But just because it can be the work of the flesh doesn't mean it is always the work of the flesh. Otherwise, Paul wouldn't have written five verses earlier to the Ephesians, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath" (4:26). When founded in holiness and justice, wrath is both acceptable and appropriate. That being true, Paul made it clear to the Ephesians that it isn't good to entertain wrath for more than a day because wrath always leads to swift action. The overwhelming majority of references of “wrath" in the Bible pertain to God's wrath. Because God is always right and just, we know that His wrath is always pure and without evil. We also know by reading Scripture that God's wrath, while holy, always leads to swift action. Time and time again, the Israelites provoked Him to wrath by idolatry, discontentment, pride or fornication and it always cost them dearly.
Scripture likens wrath unto fire, often describing someone's wrath being "kindled" like a campfire is first kindled. When we entertain wrath, holy wrath or unholy wrath, something or someone will feel the effects of the emotional fire. Wrath leads to action, whether in word or deed. When we entertain wrath, we speak swiftly with the particular type of wrath we're entertaining determining the type of words. If our wrath is unholy, we'll speak pointedly unholy words whereas if our wrath is holy, we'll speak pointedly holy words. In both cases, those words will be unforgettable and will likely echo for a lifetime. When we entertain wrath, we act swiftly with the type of action being determined by the type of wrath we’re entertaining. If our wrath is unholy, we'll act boldly and cruelly whereas if our wrath is holy, we'll act boldly and justly. In both cases, those actions will be unforgettable and quite consequential. In the Book of Job, the young Elihu experienced the kindling of wrath in his soul when hearing Job and his three friends debate one another foolishly. He heard Job speak self-righteously and he heard his three friends speak condescendingly with no one speaking accurately of God. As a result of this holy wrath, Elihu spoke with boldness and without respect of persons. He said things that surely pricked the hearts of four elderly men; things that surely were never forgotten by those four men. On the contrary, the people of Nazareth were full of unholy wrath when hearing Jesus speak the sacred words of Scripture in their synagogue. Their wrath, fueled by selfishness and pride, led them to attempt to throw Jesus off a cliff. Their actions were swift, harsh, cruel and unforgettable.
Wrath, unholy or holy, leads to swift action. This action, whether in word or in deed, always comes with lasting consequences. A man of great understanding is fully aware of the flame of wrath. A woman of great understanding is keenly aware of the impact wrath brings to those around her. Understanding men don't see wrath as a whole as evil - they just see it as powerful. Understanding women don't see all forms wrath as unacceptable - they just see all forms as emotions that leave a mark on someone. An understanding spouse reserves moments of holy wrath for very serious matters. An understanding parent reserves moments of holy wrath for very important violations. An understanding neighbor, citizen, employee, employer and friend all see holy wrath as a fire alarm - something reserved to get someone's attention in very serious moments. When holy wrath is entertained, it will likely be a moment that will be never forgotten because wrath leads to action. Therefore, a man of great understanding wants to make sure it is a moment that merits such action and one that is worth remembering.
A person without the temperance and restraint necessary to avoid pulling the fire alarm in any situation will exalt folly in their life. A man who is hasty in spirit gets emotional quickly. A woman who is hasty in spirit gets worked up at a rapid rate. People who are hasty in spirit get to emotional places quickly, whether happy, sad or angry places. These types of people will pull the fire alarm of wrath in their souls over a child spilling their drink or over a driver cutting them off or over a spouse forgetting something. People who are hasty of spirit get angry over the smallest of things and in no time at all. They can go from happy to angry in seconds, from laughing to screaming in minutes. These such souls lack the understanding to know that wrath always burns something or someone. When a person's wrath socially or relationally burns someone over a minor matter, they welcome folly into their lives. When a parent's or spouse's wrath emotionally or psychologically burns someone over a petty problem, they invite folly into their reputation. Whenever we become hasty in our spirit towards wrath, we promote folly from the private shadows of our souls to the public headlines of our lives. Wrath always leaves a mark and if entertained quickly, it will leave a lot of unnecessary marks on people around us.
If we are holy and just, there will be times where wrath is not only acceptable but necessary. In a world of sin and evil, wrath is expected. God would have us entertain it briefly and more importantly, entertain it rarely and slowly. James said it best in his epistle when he wrote, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
Wrath is one of those emotions that can be both good and bad. It can be a bad emotion when motivated by selfishness, which is why Paul listed it as a “work of the flesh” in Galatians 5. For this reason, he told the Colossians to "put off" wrath (3:8) and he told the Ephesians to "put away" wrath (4:31). But just because it can be the work of the flesh doesn't mean it is always the work of the flesh. Otherwise, Paul wouldn't have written five verses earlier to the Ephesians, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath" (4:26). When founded in holiness and justice, wrath is both acceptable and appropriate. That being true, Paul made it clear to the Ephesians that it isn't good to entertain wrath for more than a day because wrath always leads to swift action. The overwhelming majority of references of “wrath" in the Bible pertain to God's wrath. Because God is always right and just, we know that His wrath is always pure and without evil. We also know by reading Scripture that God's wrath, while holy, always leads to swift action. Time and time again, the Israelites provoked Him to wrath by idolatry, discontentment, pride or fornication and it always cost them dearly.
Scripture likens wrath unto fire, often describing someone's wrath being "kindled" like a campfire is first kindled. When we entertain wrath, holy wrath or unholy wrath, something or someone will feel the effects of the emotional fire. Wrath leads to action, whether in word or deed. When we entertain wrath, we speak swiftly with the particular type of wrath we're entertaining determining the type of words. If our wrath is unholy, we'll speak pointedly unholy words whereas if our wrath is holy, we'll speak pointedly holy words. In both cases, those words will be unforgettable and will likely echo for a lifetime. When we entertain wrath, we act swiftly with the type of action being determined by the type of wrath we’re entertaining. If our wrath is unholy, we'll act boldly and cruelly whereas if our wrath is holy, we'll act boldly and justly. In both cases, those actions will be unforgettable and quite consequential. In the Book of Job, the young Elihu experienced the kindling of wrath in his soul when hearing Job and his three friends debate one another foolishly. He heard Job speak self-righteously and he heard his three friends speak condescendingly with no one speaking accurately of God. As a result of this holy wrath, Elihu spoke with boldness and without respect of persons. He said things that surely pricked the hearts of four elderly men; things that surely were never forgotten by those four men. On the contrary, the people of Nazareth were full of unholy wrath when hearing Jesus speak the sacred words of Scripture in their synagogue. Their wrath, fueled by selfishness and pride, led them to attempt to throw Jesus off a cliff. Their actions were swift, harsh, cruel and unforgettable.
Wrath, unholy or holy, leads to swift action. This action, whether in word or in deed, always comes with lasting consequences. A man of great understanding is fully aware of the flame of wrath. A woman of great understanding is keenly aware of the impact wrath brings to those around her. Understanding men don't see wrath as a whole as evil - they just see it as powerful. Understanding women don't see all forms wrath as unacceptable - they just see all forms as emotions that leave a mark on someone. An understanding spouse reserves moments of holy wrath for very serious matters. An understanding parent reserves moments of holy wrath for very important violations. An understanding neighbor, citizen, employee, employer and friend all see holy wrath as a fire alarm - something reserved to get someone's attention in very serious moments. When holy wrath is entertained, it will likely be a moment that will be never forgotten because wrath leads to action. Therefore, a man of great understanding wants to make sure it is a moment that merits such action and one that is worth remembering.
A person without the temperance and restraint necessary to avoid pulling the fire alarm in any situation will exalt folly in their life. A man who is hasty in spirit gets emotional quickly. A woman who is hasty in spirit gets worked up at a rapid rate. People who are hasty in spirit get to emotional places quickly, whether happy, sad or angry places. These types of people will pull the fire alarm of wrath in their souls over a child spilling their drink or over a driver cutting them off or over a spouse forgetting something. People who are hasty of spirit get angry over the smallest of things and in no time at all. They can go from happy to angry in seconds, from laughing to screaming in minutes. These such souls lack the understanding to know that wrath always burns something or someone. When a person's wrath socially or relationally burns someone over a minor matter, they welcome folly into their lives. When a parent's or spouse's wrath emotionally or psychologically burns someone over a petty problem, they invite folly into their reputation. Whenever we become hasty in our spirit towards wrath, we promote folly from the private shadows of our souls to the public headlines of our lives. Wrath always leaves a mark and if entertained quickly, it will leave a lot of unnecessary marks on people around us.
If we are holy and just, there will be times where wrath is not only acceptable but necessary. In a world of sin and evil, wrath is expected. God would have us entertain it briefly and more importantly, entertain it rarely and slowly. James said it best in his epistle when he wrote, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
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