Wednesday, June 17, 2020

A N G E R
Ecclesiastes 7:9

How quickly are you provoked to anger during competition?  Would your teammates say that you are slow to anger or that you have a short fuse?  Today’s scripture explains why it’s better to keep a cool head in competition.

In chapter 7 and verse 9 of Ecclesiastes we read, “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.”

It’s very common in sport for a hot head to suddenly blow up during a competition.  They get provoked by some trash talk, by a cheap shot, by a coach’s comment or any number of things.  They are provoked in their spirits and erupt in a foolish demonstration of anger.  Some people even think they compete better when right on the edge of a fit of rage.

There is one very great problem with that.  Such anger and rage rest squarely in the lap of fools.  One’s rage is more often an indicator of foolishness than of greatness in competition.  Such anger more often results in technical fouls and penalties than excellence in technique and strategy.

As you compete today, stay under control emotionally.  Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit.  Rage and anger will only lead to foolish penalties and terrible consequences.

Bible Reading Plan:
Ephesians 2:1-11
Psalms 119:129-136
II Kings 8-9