The GREAT deterrent

James 1:19-20

But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

These verses have so much wisdom it's not even funny. I just think about how many times if I would've just kept my mouth shut in my marriage... how many less times I would've ended up on my couch!!!!

But it's so much more than that. Instead of LISTENING (which by the way is more than just HEARING) and trying to understand the heart and motives of the one who is speaking, we jump to conclusions and get angry instead. When it comes right down to it, this is rooted in our PRIDE which is why James calls it the "anger of MAN".

This is a HUGE problem within the church as well. Too many times we don't LISTEN and try to understand the heart and/or motives of why someone is doing a certain ministry or mission and because it's not what WE want WE get angry and it is detrimental to the success of JESUS' church. It does nothing to "achieve the righteousness of God."

So the next time you feel like getting ANGRY either inside or outside the church....TRY "LISTENING" instead of just hearing....and let the righteousness of God be fulfilled.