Proverbial Self-Control
#DAY13 #WHM #Self-Control #PersonalDevotional
He who restrains his words has knowledge
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Proverbs 17:27
“Restraint” is what we often associate with self-control. We usually think of that in relation to sexual desires or culinary desires but the Holy Spirit often addresses it in relation to “anger”; especially in the book of Proverbs. If you are someone who is prone to anger then I’m sure you understand that all too well.
But I really like this other illustrative definition of self-control as one who has a “cool spirit”. We know a “hot head” is someone who gets easily angered. But we also use the slang term “chill” both in relation to those who are angry (“Hey, chill out!”), and to those who are just easygoing and don’t get all that upset that often (“Don’t worry. She’s chill.”).
Christians aren’t always thought of as “Cool” (I hope you caught the understatement there), but we should be. We should be “cool” in the sense that we are not easily angered, not a hot head, and that we are people who show restraint with our words. In school growing up you might have been a dork, geek, nerd, or dweeb. Who cares. Whatever you were then, what are you going to choose to be now? Choose to be “cool”.
There are at least three fundamental parts to proverbial godly wisdom: knowledge, understanding, and discretion (the ability to effectively and appropriately use knowledge and discretion). We see two of those words in this proverb and the third is implied. That tells us, that if we went to be cool, if we want to be able to restrain our passions, then we need to possess the knowledge and understanding (perspective) of wisdom/truth/God. How do you get that? Where do you get that?
The "where" is easy. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;" [2 Timothy 3:16 NASB95] The "how" is easier said than done, "For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice [it,] and to teach [His] statutes and ordinances in Israel." [Ezra 7:10 NASB95] We have to do the work. We have to get into the word. And may I recommend, we must especially get into the book of Proverbs. No other book is designed to so comprehensively provide us the wisdom of God for life than the book of Proverbs.
So what am I saying? I’m saying, nothing will make you “cool” like the word of God (especially the book of Proverbs).
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