“SLOW DOWN”

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.”

James 1:19-20

In the midst of an argument, nothing feels better than expressing our thoughts and defending ourselves, right? Think again. In today's blog, we will go back to the Bible and find out why.

In our previous three blogs, we discussed different kinds of conflict that could arise in the church. From this point on, we will give practical ways to resolve conflicts among believers.

First, slow down.

Today’s passage talks about being doers of the word and how its principles can be applied to conflict resolution. Being too quick to speak only adds fuel to the fire. Remember, we’re trying to resolve an issue, not make it worse.

James wants his readers to receive the truth of God’s word. He starts by demanding their attention and preparedness to listen (akouō, to understand). Failure to listen effectively hinders the acceptance of truth, so one must control his speech and listen more. Moreover, keeping anger in check is vital to understanding the truth. 

The Bible places more emphasis on listening than speaking. The one who listens is the one who matures. Therefore, it’s best to slow down, take time to listen and understand the situation. Instead of throwing shots at someone, we can respond in such a helpful way. It’s not about winning an argument; it’s about winning somebody’s heart.

Take note that the Bible does not discount anger. God knows that we, as human beings, can feel anger, which is a human emotion that can be justified. Jesus demonstrated righteous anger, didn't He? 

On our part, we can see that if we get irate too quickly, such a wave of anger does not produce the righteousness of God. That is to say, a sudden outburst of emotion does not reflect God's character. Human anger is primarily a result of selfishness, fear, or a desire to control others.

So, my first step in conflict resolution is to slow down, take time to listen, and try to have a heart of understanding. How well do you stay composed and focus on what is being said?

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Vincent van Zalinge on Unsplash