Reading for Today:
Proverb Chapter 16
Gold Nugget
Verse 32: “He
who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit
than he who takes a city.”
Commentary
I have worked for years in the industrial field and have
installed hundreds of safety valves. Depending on the facility that I worked
in, it may have been referred to as a Pressure Safety Valve or maybe a Relief
Valve. A safety valve is designed with a set pressure at which it will open and
release its pressure and contents, either to the atmosphere or into a
particular controlled location. It is commonly installed in pipe systems,
tanks, vessels, etc. If you want to see what one looks like, take a look at your
water heater. There will be a small brass valve on the side near the top or
directly on top. Just like the systems in the industrial industry, your water
heater has this safety device that is installed to prevent ruptures and or
explosions. Mine is designed to open at either 150psi or 210F degrees. Because
water heaters do just what their name implies, it has a heat source. Your water
heater's heat source can be adjusted to where it heats the water to a certain
temperature and then stops heating. If for some reason it didn't automatically
stop heating at the designed temperature and the safety valve failed, it would
keep heating and rising in pressure until it ruptured. All of us have a
"set pressure" at which we must vent. If we do not have a
"safety valve", when we reach that point we will rupture or explode.
My safety valve works like this; when I am under heat or pressure to the point
that I may rupture, I shut down the entire system. I don't try to back the
pressure down, adjust the heat or anything to moderate or control it. I just
shut the whole thing down. I will walk away; completely stop talking or some
equivalent. Again, this is when I am nearing the rupture pressure. I know when
that is. It's the point where I want to just start getting in the flesh and
saying things to hurt. In my opinion, my "set pressure" is higher
than it used to be. Over the years, the Lord as steadily adjusted that set
pressure to allow me to handle more heat and pressure. I'm not talking about an
unhealthy "holding things in", but a healthy resistance to anger.
It's important that we know our set pressure and ensure that our release of the
frustration and anger is controlled. “God is faithful, who will not allow you
to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make
the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13b)
Prayer
Lord, please help me to learn to be slow to anger. I know
that I must practice self-control and be able to endure more challenges or even
conflicts with people without exploding or rupturing. Help me to remember that
how I react to these things can damage my testimony or bring glory to you. I
want to be able to endure hardships and bring glory to your name.
Amen
If you are reading this devotional in an e-mail and would
like to post a comment, click on this link http://proverbfortoday.org/
No comments:
Post a Comment