Key Verse: Proverbs 15:1 

 

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” 

 

If you are a human being then in all likelihood you sometimes struggle to with anger. We all have ‘anger issues’ at various different times over various different things. In Proverbs 15:1 Solomon reminds us of the importance of self control while also warning us of the dangers of speaking in anger towards someone else. Notice he writes that a soft answer turns away wrath. The idea behind this is that if someone comes at you in anger, if you respond with kindness and gentleness their hot anger might just be cooled down. However, we must remember that the book of Proverbs is not a book of promises but rather it is a book of principles, it is a book of how things usually work out. We have probably all seen a situation where a soft answer did not turn away wrath. However, God’s Word tells us that it usually will. This does not mean that we cower down or keep silent in tense situations. Rather it means that we exercise self control and respond to the hot headed person with kindness but firmness. When we do this the typical outcome will be that this person is calmed down as a result of our kindness. What would happen if we responded in similar anger? Solomon gives us the answer in the next phrase. He says that if we respond in harshness we will only stir up their anger even more. I am confident that you have seen this happen. It doesn’t take long for two hot headed people to cause a real scene. 

 

This proverb reminds of the importance of self control and also the importance of having kindness and gentleness in the midst of tense overwhelming situations. I hope this gives the encouragement as well as a reminder to handle that hot headed person with grace and kindness. This is God’s way!