All ancient cities had the same feature for protection: a wall. Remember Jericho? The wall came down and the city fell to the Israelites. Remember Nehemiah? The prophet took a crew to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. Remember the movies that show invading armies scaling walls while archers shoot them and pour boiling tar down on them, and more? Security was all about WALLS. (America’s border with Mexico is 2,000 miles, yet the wall has never been completed. By contrast, the Chinese built the Great Wall nearly 3,000 years ago, and it is 13,000 miles long—if it were a straight line it would reach more than half the distance around the earth!)
When it comes to security, people in history knew: IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE WALL.
What about personal security? What about your safety and well-being and that of your family? Solomon offers a simple analogy:
“A man who does not control his temper is like a city whose walls are broken down” Proverbs 25:28.
If your anger is out of control, you are blowing up your wall, hurting yourself and your family. If you cannot ‘temper’ your reactions, you leave yourself vulnerable. First, you look foolish and weak. Second, you break things. Angry men and women throw batting helmets, vases, and dinner glasses. They punch walls, break their hands, and physically injure the ones they love the most.
—And yes, they DO love them. If you have an anger problem, don’t think your love will stop you from doing something stupid. Furious rage is a beast, an Incredible Hulk that Dr. Bruce Banner cannot control.
If you struggle with violent anger, deal with it now. Beg God for wisdom and supernatural help.
God, teach us better habits. Help us choose patience. Help us be calm. Remind us of who we are—and WHOSE we are. Remind us to honor You even when we are selfish, hurt, and angry.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 