”Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
Proverbs 14:29New International Version (NIV)
Proverbs 14:29 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)
Whoever is patient has great understanding
Proverbs 14:29, which I have themed “Whoever is patient has great understanding”, is the first verse of Proverbs 14:29-35, where Solomon reminded his listener/reader that anger and temper are characteristics of foolishness. In verse 29, Solomon contrasted patience and quick temper. He linked patience with great understanding and quick temper with folly.
Solomon, therefore, opined that the man who is patient is one of great understanding. No wonder, in Proverbs 14:7, Solomon warns you and me to “Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips”. Because understanding is the application of knowledge and wisdom.
The patient man
The patient man is the man who does not get upset and angry quickly. Because quick-temperedness is a negative thing in your life. It will get you in trouble.
Your quick temper will fire up your tongue and you will speak words you cannot withdraw. A quick temper will also overcloud your reason.
God is slow to anger
Furthermore, God in whose image you were created, is slow to anger (Exodus 34:6, Psalm 86:15, Psalm 145:8, and Romans 2:4). Therefore, you are created to be slow to anger.
But you can only be patient when you submit yourself to His Spirit. Because He is the One who can produce patience in you and in your life.
You can also, in addition, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the motivation (trigger) for your quick temper. And with such revelation, you can work out your self-control.
A quick temper is detrimental
All in all, a quick temper, therefore, is detrimental to your well-being. It will get you in trouble because it is the result of a lack of self-control. Patience, therefore, is a function of self-control and a characteristic of great understanding.
Moses was quick-tempered and it made him lose out on stepping into the Promised Land (Exodus 2:11-15, 32:15-30, Numbers 11:10-15, and 20:8-12). Samson too was quickly tempered and it made him lose his life (Judges 15).
Prayer/Blessing
Lord God, fill me with your Spirit so that I can overcome my quick temper. Otherwise, Lord, I will fall into trouble.
I desire to be patient. So I submit to Your Spirit so that He may produce the fruit of patience in me.
This is my humble prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Proverbs 27-31 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
