SCRIP-BITS

Ecclesiastes 7:9.     Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
 
Oh Friends, we’re one day closer to seeing the God we LOVE so much, however in the meantime, He’s provided us with all sorts of good stuff down here on earth, so let’s enjoy them by honouring Him with good fruit from our lives nuh. That’s what Jesus is looking for from His followers: ‘Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.’ (Matt.7:20) ‘…for the tree is known by his fruit.’ (Matt.13:33) Yes Friends, let’s not be like the wind that raged through these parts all yesterday and last night. It was obviously angry, like too many of us are these days, and carrying that anger around with us daily, just cripples our lives. We can’t do anything useful or productive for Christ if we’re continually angry at the world, ourselves, our circumstances, and/or the people around us. Please remember people that uncontrolled anger only produces negative results. Again, like the wind, though it was a cool and refreshing wind on a warm day, nobody really enjoyed it because it was in an angry mode and produced nothing useful, just discomfort, with stuff blowing all over the place. Now if that same wind had been calm and cool, been a gentle breeze, rather than an upset aggressor, it would have been much more appreciated and produced better results than it did. That’s how our anger also destroys our good intentions. It’s not to say we should not get angry over the right things, but we must not allow that anger to permeate our souls, to take up permanent residence in our lives. As Bruh Paul so wisely warns: ‘Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place (opportunity) to the devil.’ (Eph.4:26-27) So when we’re angry, we must be careful not to let it lead us to sin, neither should we go to bed angry, cause it’s only giving Lucifer a better chance to invade our lives. That’s why the Preacher also cautions in our Bit: ‘Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.’ And that’s the gospel truth my people! Those who are quick to get angry lead undisciplined, unfruitful, negative, emotion-driven, temperamental, ungodly lives. For how can you live a godly life if you’re always flying off the handle at the slightest excuse? Sadly though, too many of us believers have that unfortunate attitude. We walk around with a scowl, a constant chip on our shoulders, aggrieved at every little nonsense. We need to implant James’ words in our hearts, my Friends. ‘Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not (does not produce) the righteousness of God.’ (James 1:19-20) That hits the proverbial nail right on its proverbial head my people! As we said above, anger produces no good fruit for God, which is our earthly purpose. So if we truly want to be productive in Christ’s work, then we’ve got to learn to control our anger, which is not a very easy thing to do. But we can do it by first listening carefully to what’s ever been said to us; that means quietly gathering all the facts before letting loose our anger cannon. Then we need to stop for a moment and consider those facts in a godly manner before we open our mouths. That’s the only way our spirits will get rid or at least control their angry bent. And my people it’s ever so important to stay calm and unruffled in these troubled times, so we can make wise and godly decisions, for the worst time to make a decision is when we’re angry. It thus proves the Preacher’s point: ‘for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.’ Yes Friends, there’s no way to sugar-coat this one; if you allow anger, or any of its derivatives to control your life, then you are a fool. So please, let’s all try and wise up nuh, for all of us have that anger bug lurking in the background of our spirits, just anxiously and eagerly awaiting a chance to spring forth and spoil our lives. But if we diligently read the scriptures on anger management, meditate on them, and sincerely ask the Lord for help on the matter, then we’ll keep the enemy at bay, something we desperately need to do right now, amidst all the confusion that’s hurtling around us. Much LOVE!…short tempers…usually lead to…long, severe problems…