Temper your temper

August 30, 2006

By Croft M. Pentz

Do you ever lose your temper? When losing it, you lose all sense of reasoning and rationality. One can’t think clearly when the temper is out of control. You say things you’ll be sorry for your entire life.

The writer of Proverbs said, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32, KJV). Learn to control your tongue, then you can control others.

It takes only a moment to lose your temper, but the sad results may last a lifetime. When losing your temper, you hurt yourself, family, friends and associates. An uncontrolled temper destroys friendships.

Peter listed ingredients we should add to our faith (2 Peter 1:5-7). Two of these are temperance and patience. One of the nine fruits of the Spirit is temperance (Galatians 5:22,23).

Since temperance isn’t a gene, it is our responsibility to control our temper. Jesus spoke of patience possessing our souls (Luke 21:19). If you don’t control your temper, it will control you. With God’s help and your cooperation, you can control your temper!

Croft M. Pentz writes “Healing for the Hurting” for The Record Herald of Waynesboro, Pa.