Daily Devotionals
Devotional: April 22nd
Proverbs 14:17-35
"He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly" (v. 17; cf. Ecclesiastes 7:9). By contrast, "he that is slow to wrath is of great understanding . . ." (v. 29; see also James 1:19). This latter characteristic is often attributed to God Himself (Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18, etc.) How many things are done or words uttered in a moment of irritation, which are afterwards bitterly regretted! Rather than showing a "hasty spirit", let us then have this great wisdom of allowing a moment of reflection (better still of prayer) to precede any explosion of anger on our part. We shall notice more than once from what follows that there is really no point in becoming irritated. The one who has God’s approval is able to wait patiently for Him (cf. 1 Kings 22:24-25).
"He that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he" (v. 21). Under the excuse that good works are useless to accomplish our salvation, we could be inclined to neglect them. However the children of God are rightly invited to be the first in good works (Titus 3:14), nevertheless without losing sight of the fact that the needy condition of souls comes before material needs. V. 25 reminds us of the Witness above all others . . . but at the same time of that which should characterise all true witness: to show to souls the way of salvation.
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