Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. Mark Twain
Our natural reaction when slandered or treated unfairly is frequently anger, which is why James issues the following warning:
James 1:19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness and receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Going back to the opening of the letter, we are instructed to rejoice because we know that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. Perseverance leads to our maturity. God intends for the trials that we face to be the means of our spiritual growth.
When we are slandered we should not respond in anger. When we are treated unfairly we should not respond in anger. When we are driven from our homes we should not respond in anger. Such a teaching goes against our every natural inclination. Because
we are all inclined to self-protection, we often mishandle the trials that come our way. We want to lash out. We want to teach the people who mistreat and disrespect us a lesson. But James says slow down. James wants us to know that we have two options. We can respond in a way that produces the righteousness of God, or we can respond in a way that produces a religion [that] is worthless.
Which way do you want to respond?
How can we respond in a way that produces the righteousness of God?
Return to The Letter of James.