Wednesday, 15 April 2020 Ecclesiastes 10:1-20
If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.” -Ecclesiastes 10:4[ESV]
The mark of a Christian is that of a peacemaker. Since their leader is called the ‘Prince of Peace,’ the followers have the mandate to carry peace. Every Christian lives in a world that has increasingly become hostile towards him. Even the daily chores of life have become so demanding that at some point people tend to lose their temper.
In a working environment, at times it can become so stressful that the normal human tendency is to get frustrated and later on vent it out on somebody. Instead, some people opt another route – escape from the scene. They know that the situation may cause confrontation, so to avoid they leave the place. Many even resign their jobs and change their residence to avoid outbursts of anger!!
The Bible tells the believer – DON’T!! If the king (your boss at the workplace) is angry with you, do not try to change the job OR change the boss – rather change yourself!! The key verse tells us to keep our composure. James 2:20 says “… the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” We are asked to demonstrate our good behaviour in the gentleness of wisdom (James 3:13).
A case in point is Daniel who should have lost his composure umpteen number of times with the many kings he was put under to work with. And that too they could find no fault with any area of his work and so the enemy targeted his faith (Daniel 6). He had every right to react in righteous anger when he was going to be thrown into the lions’ den. But Daniel’s composure and confidence in God shut the lions’ mouth and he came out unscathed. Remember that your composure too will shut the mouths of those lion-like people who are trying to tear you down!
To keep our composure in tough circumstances, we need to:
Not retaliate- Most often we want “to give back in the same coin!” But see Jesus’ example- “And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). When Jesus"… was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1 Peter 2:23). Why? He was focused on His mission of going to the cross for dying for you and me!
Quiet and Confident: Isaiah 30: 15 says, “… In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” As we saw from Daniel’s life, his quiet and confident composure at all times stood him in good stead before the most provoking situations before kings.
Receive with meekness the Word: James exhorts the believers: "So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls." (James 1:21 NLT). Only the living and active Word of God can give purify us and build that composure in us to face those situations where we can lose our cool.
Dear friend, you may be facing such tough times where you can easily lose your tranquillity or you may be thinking of running away from it. Let God’s Word strengthen you to stay calm and composed while you face it and be sure the Lord will bring forth great victory over it that one day you will be honoured for your composure!
Prayer:
Dear LORD may Your peace rule my heart today as I decide to stay composed in the face of any offence that can come my way today. In Jesus name, Amen