James 1:17-21

“You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.”  vss. 19-20

Even though Martin Luther considered James to be an epistle of straw because of its insistence on works, we should be grateful that his words are included in our scriptures. The relevance of what he had to say to his readers is readily apparent, especially in this time of partisan bickering and the resulting fragmented relationships. All around we see folks with built-in agendas who aren’t the least bit interested in what others might want to say to them. When we become involved in a political or religious conversation with such a person, and we feel heat rising within, the best thing we can do is slow down and listen, and then say, “Thank you! I value your insights and your friendship.” It may be that your friend will then ask you for your ideas, but even if that doesn’t happen, it never hurts to allow others to have the last word. And it may even be that the friendship can be maintained. James had his finger on the pulse of social intercourse and knew that becoming angry never yields a positive outcome, even in those rare instances when we know what we’re talking about. And given the importance of community in Christ-centered living, we’ll do all we can to keep the spirit of unity alive and well.

Thought for the Day: What do I do when I become angry in a conversation?