Fools are quick to express their anger, but wise people are patient and control themselves.

You don’t have to look far on the news or social media to find a lot of angry voices. People are trying to shout down their opposition, sometimes resorting to violence in order to “underline” their righteous indignation. But is any of this anger righteous?

Our verse from Proverbs helps us tell the difference between foolish and wise expressions of anger.

Fools are not necessarily stupid. Rather, they are people who hate wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 1:22). Instead of submitting to wisdom and knowledge about God and His creation, they follow the dictates of their own sinful selves. Fools, in other words, are in rebellion against any principle of wisdom and knowledge that impinges upon them from the outside. They want to do whatever they want, whenever they want.

That’s why fools “are quick to express their anger.” There is nothing holding them back. There is no norm, or law, or principle, or command that they acknowledge and respect to keep them from losing control of themselves. If anyone tries to calm them down, they get angrier still. They are like horses and mules which have no understanding and must be controlled with bit and reins (Psalm 32:9). You can’t appeal to the better instincts of a fool.

The wise, in contrast, are not necessarily smart. Rather, they are people who love wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 4:8). Instead of following the dictates of their own sinful selves, they submit to wisdom and knowledge about God and His creation. The wise are obedient people. They obey the God-given principles of wisdom and knowledge that guide them in the everlasting way. They want to be in compliance with God’s law and reap the benefits thereof.

That’s why the wise appear patient and in control of themselves. The principles of wisdom and knowledge hold them back. The God-given norms, principles, and commands that they acknowledge and respect keep them from losing control. If they do get angry, you can calm them down by appealing to their better instincts.

The wise are patient and in control, but they are not always passive. The wise are capable of righteous anger. Like Jesus, they can get angry when they are confronted with great sin, when they are confronted with gross disobedience to the principles of wisdom and knowledge (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 3:5). Even then, however, they are not, like the fool, quick to express their anger; they will strive, as James teaches, to be “slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19 NIV), so that the righteousness of God can be revealed.

Today, let us ask God for help in becoming judicious and wise when it comes to the expression of anger.

By John Huisman, friend of Bible League International