TALK AND TEMPER

Preachers are proclaimers. As teachers, we are tasked to talk. Yet, James warns about the trouble with talk and temper for “every man,” and that includes preachers! We are not exempt from these Biblical principles.

BE SWIFT TO LISTEN—“be swift to hear.”  Sometimes those who are called to use their mouths, are not so eager to employ their ears. It has been suggested that the reason God gave us only one mouth and two ears was that we should listen more than we talk. A preacher who has heard from the Master and the members will be more effective in speaking. In so doing, we will not speak over the people’s heads, but straight to their hearts.  He has heard their hopes and heeds their hurts. The good shepherd has spent time with the sheep and gives them a diet suited to their needs.

BE SLOW TO SPEAK—“slow to speak.”  One thing that hinders me in listening is when I am thinking about what I am going to say next instead of carefully hearing what the people are saying. Sometimes, I have foolishly answered prematurely and they were headed a different direction in the discussion—if I had waited before speaking. My words that go from my mouth are like squeezing the toothpaste tube—once they are out of my lips, there is not putting them back. James reminds us of the power of the tongue—to bring healing or hurt, (cf. 3:1-12. 

BE SLOW TO ANGER—“slow to wrath.”  We should all be thankful that the wrath of God is restrained!  If a perfect God chooses to be slow to anger, how much more do I as a sinful, self-centered human need to keep anger in check by the power of the Holy Spirit. Think about how the fruit of the Spirit enables us to be slow to anger: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law,” (Gal.‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬‬). To be full of the Spirit rather than full of myself should be my aim.

This text closes with the reminder, “for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”  I can recall a few times (thankfully not many) when I have “blown my top” in either a private conversation or public communication—and when the dust settled, it left destruction and debris to try to clean up.