Proverbs 12:16

A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.

I’ve always wanted to be that person who, despite the circumstances, remains calm, cool, and collected. Interestingly, this phrase appears in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as an idiom meaning: not upset; not very bothered by things. Does that describe you when things aren’t going your way, or when you are being treated poorly or insulted? Are you a fool according to today’s verse…or are you wise?

Self-control is a Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) and resides as a powerful seed inside the heart of every follower of Christ…so why do we struggle to use it when we are attacked? Maligned? Insulted? The great theologian John Calvin once said, “man’s nature is a perpetual factory of idols” and for all of us, one of those idols is ourselves. When this particular idol is attacked – the idol of self – our tempers flare and we tend to jump in without any delay and get to work defending ourselves. A fool, it seems, is quick-tempered.

A wise person, on the other hand, is never quick to anger and is usually slow to speak…even when attacked (Jas. 1:19). The wise Christian’s self-worth is rooted in Christ, so it can’t be damaged when the insults come flying. The wise Christian’s sense of justice is rooted in God’s character, so he easily trusts in the Ultimate Judge’s activity rather than his own. The wise Christian’s words and tone are a direct reflection of Christ so he measures them and shares them only when they are ready to validate his witness.

So, the next time you are attacked…or maligned…or insulted, be sure to remember that through Christ, you already have a supernatural ability to remain calm, cool, and collected. All you have to do is act on it.