“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)

 

An unbeliever that is familiar with Scripture will, without doubt, bring up John chapter two (2) and ask the Christ-ian believer to explain Christ’s “outburst” and loss of temper.  Reader, would you be able to explain the situation and demonstrate for the pride-filled fool the fact that Christ in no way, shape or form lost control of Himself? Could you show this person that Christ’s outburst was fully under control?

We will give you proofs in this article that Christ was under His own control, (DV).

1. Christ made a scourge of small cords and this takes time.  This is not the action of a man that is out of control. This is the action of the Man that was under control, and planning a strategick attack.
2. Notice as the tables were tossed and animals and man ran for freedom and safety, the doves were not among the animals or men tossed to and fro. The Christ kept the doves in the cage and directed the money changers to take them away.  The other animals could be captured again but the doves, if they flew away, could not be re-captured so easily.  Christ takes from no man, no man can convict Christ of stealing or causing him loss.
3. There was purpose behind His actions, there was a message and a prophecy to be fulfilled.

The above demonstrates our Lord was in control and under His own control.  But Christ-ian reader, What about you?  What about me? Can the same thing be said about us?  Are we always under control?  Are we always temperate? Are we always composed?  Christ, when on trial, was the picture and definition of composed.  What about you and me?  When we undergo trials are we composed?

It is an accomplishment when one can remain under control, temperate, and composed at all times, even when no one is looking. In Galatians 5, Paul writes about the fruit of the Spirit and temperance is the last one listed.  Methinks it is listed last because it is the last fruit or grace to be obtained. Remember what our chosen text relates to us.  The person who is temperate, under control, and composed is better than the mighty and he who takes a city.  The mighty man, the military man are second (2nd) to the person that can keep the self subjected to control.  These are bold words are they not? The Proverb speaks to a mighty man and a military man that is not under control, methinks.  To be a mighty man or a good military man does one not have control over self? Methinks the answer is obvious.

What does one do if one has a temper?  As with all things, make this a matter of prayer.  Confess it as sin and seek to repent of it by the grace of God.  Seek to avoid situations, persons, places, etc. that make provisions for the loss of one’s temper. When you sense your temper rising, get away, get alone, be alone with God and pray through it.
I have found that the desire to control one’s self is paramount to everything else. It is paramount even to prayer, if you do not truly desire freedom from your temper, God will know and He will not honour your prayer and you will find yourself lying to God and yourself.

Realize that the loss of temper may feel good at the time, it hurts others, it harms your Christ-ian witness, and it is not Christ-like in any fashion.  Paul tells us that “the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.”  In other words, the loss of your temper is in no way godly or Christ-like and it will not serve any good purpose.

Full disclosure: I am writing to myself as much as anyone else.
Another point, One can lose one’s temper on the inside and look perfectly at peace on the outside. Neither is godly, or Christ-like.