Title: Folly vs. Wisdom/Topic: Self-Control

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 28; Proverbs 29; Psalm 60; Romans 16

Scripture: Proverbs 29:11
11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

Observation: This verse flies in the face of the some of the nonsense that is espoused by our society. We have become, in general, a people obsessed with being open about our feelings. Kids are taught (and adults too) that they should express their emotions and not keep them inside. Psychologists warn that if they don't express their emotions then they are not being honest and they might be emotionally damaged by having to “stuff” their feelings. That kind of hogwash has led us to a society where many people think it is okay to curse publicly, to flip off another driver if they annoy you in traffic, to go in and shoot others at school if you have been picked on, and to the destruction of many families as various members give full vent to their rage.

Application: Being honest about how I may be feeling can be done without losing control and raging against others. Wisdom demands keeping my emotions under control so that I do not cause damage to others or to myself. Part of honoring God is to be a person who demonstrates self-control. Anger and rage may scare people into doing what I want but they ultimately damage relationships. It is a very destructive method of controlling others.

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit who helps me to produce in my life the fruit of your character, one of which is self-control. Please bring wisdom to our society and to parents raising children so that we can become a peaceable people. We have forgotten the beauty of your laws too much and have embraced foolishness. Turn us back to you so that we may be a blessed people.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.