Imprudent people believe everything, and they act recklessly. But they also are marked by something else: a quick temper. As Proverbs makes clear, “[a] man of quick temper acts foolishly.”
But note what is interesting about the Proverb: It does not say a prudent man has no temper, or that he never gets angry. As Charles Spurgeon has observed: “A vigorous temper is not altogether an evil. Men who are easy as an old shoe are generally of little worth.” Jesus himself overturned the tables of the money changers in the temple courtyard, because He was angry at their misuse of God’s house for personal gain.
What the Proverb says is that the prudent man is not quick-tempered. It is, it seems, something of a matter of speed. And the question, then, is how can we slow our temper? Is that even possible?
Well, the Apostle James gives us the answer when he writes:
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
The key to a slow temper, it turns out, starts with holding our tongue. To be sure, just being silent doesn’t necessarily make us prudent; but people who are quick-tempered are almost always quick to fire off what’s on their mind.
Remember, “[ ] when [Jesus] was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, ‘Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?’ 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.”
Do you desire to be more prudent? Start with slowing your anger; and that starts with being slower to speak and quicker to listen.
Have a wonderful day.