The Arrogant and Un-wise React Quickly

Proverbs 12:16  “A fool’s wrath is quickly and openly known, but a prudent man ignores an insult.”  
 
NLT  =  “The spiritually immature and prideful person is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.”  
 
One of the clearest distinctions between wisdom and foolishness is emotional restraint.  Proverbs teaches us that a fool immediately reveals irritation, anger, and offense.  Immaturity reacts quickly and loudly, but wisdom exercises self-control and restraint.  
 
Our culture has become one that encourages emotional impulsiveness.  People are taught to immediately “speak their mind,”  vent every frustration, react to every irritation, and to rise up if you don’t agree.  But the Spirit of God produces self-control, not emotionally instability.  Mature believers do not allow temporary emotions to permanently damage relationships.  
 
Wisdom gives the ability to pause, pray and discern whether something truly needs attention or whether it simply needs grace.  
 
Too many people have lost relationships, opportunities, and influence because they reacted emotionally in a moment of offense.  Once words are spoken, you cannot retrieve them… You can’t put toothpaste back into the tube once is squeezed out.
 
Our enemy loves “impulsive reactions”, because he knows emotional responses create damage that wisdom could have prevented.   The prudent and wise learn to govern their emotions instead of being governed by them.  Spiritual maturity is not measured by how powerfully we can react, but how wisely we respond.  
 
Wisdom Statement:  “Spiritual maturity is revealed by what it takes to offend you.”