The Book of Proverbs offers profound insights into the nature of anger and how we should manage it. Proverbs emphasizes the value of patience and self-control, highlighting that a person who is slow to anger is wiser and more powerful than one who is quick-tempered The teachings also stress the importance of responding gently to defuse anger. This underscores the power of calm and measured responses in preventing conflicts. Moreover, Proverbs warns against the folly of uncontrolled anger. This highlights that wisdom lies in maintaining composure and not letting anger dictate our actions. Overall, Proverbs teaches that managing anger with patience, gentleness, and self-control leads to wisdom and peace, while unchecked anger leads to folly and discord. It’s not that we should never get angry, it’s more about what we ‘do’ with that anger. Download the Anger Management Chapter from Matt’s book – Deeper Places.

The Book of Proverbs provides timeless wisdom on how to navigate various relationships with wisdom, discipline, and a deep trust in the Lord. It encourages virtues of righteousness, justice, loyalty, respect, and mutual edification in all relationships. In this book of wisdom we can gain valuable insights into the nature of true friendship. It encourages loyalty, trust, and mutual respect. For instance, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). It also warns against making friends with a hot-tempered person (Proverbs 22:24-25) and highlights the importance of honest rebuke in friendship (Proverbs 27:5-6). The writer of Proverbs also underscores the importance of familial relationships and the role of wisdom within the family unit. It advises children to heed the instruction of their parents (Proverbs 1:8). It also highlights the joy and grief parents can experience due to the actions of their children (Proverbs 10:1, 15:20).

“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.” Why? Because he is wise enough to understand that he does not know it all. It takes sincere humility to admit, “I was wrong” rather than submitting to the captivity of our pride. Prov. 3:5-8: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” Relying on God rather than the image we manage to project is an act of wise humility. If we are willing to see ourselves for what we are rather than being wise in our own eyes, God will loom all the larger and we will have all the more reason to lovingly fear him, turn away from the evil of pride and do others the good to which we have been called. Pride. It is how we treat others in the name of truth, how we view ourselves, how we conduct our lives in the presence of God.