In James 1:19, we are given counsel that is full of rich, practical blessing when it is obeyed. We are to be “quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” We know these three instructions are connected because James grounds the last phrase, “slow to anger,” with this statement: “For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (1:20). Anger is the theme of these two verses. Positively, being quick to hear and slow to speak are two vital ways we enable ourselves to be slow to anger. Negatively, we will be quick to speak and slow to hear when we allow our anger to be easily kindled.
But why must we be “slow to anger?” James says because the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God. We can then ask, “Why doesn’t the anger of man produce the righteousness of God?” The first reason why the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God is that God himself is slow to anger. This truth is replete throughout the Old Testament.
Exodus 34:6: The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness
Numbers 14:18: The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’
Psalm 86:15: But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Psalm 103:8: The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 145:8: The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
As God’s children, we are called to imitate our Father (Eph 5:1), and our Father is not marked by a quick temper. God endured mankind’s sin for many years before he sent the flood (Gen 6:5-8). He patiently tolerated Israel’s rebellion for decades before he unleashed his justice. Indeed, he has endured humanity’s rebellion for centuries, choosing to postpone his judgment so that many might be forgiven of their sin through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:9). Truly God is slow to anger.
We see, then, that quickness to anger is also contrary to the gospel. If we are the recipients of God’s grace, we know personally that God was not only slow to anger, but that he has removed his anger completely from us through his Son’s wrath-bearing sacrifice (Rom 3:21-26). It is for this reason that Christians should be known for our gentleness, forgiveness, tenderness, and patience with others (Eph 4:32; Titus 3:2; James 3:17)
When we are quick to be angry, then, we are acting contrary to our Father’s own character and contrary to the grace God has shown us. Such conduct cannot produce the righteousness of God because it is antithetical to it.
James is not suggesting that all human anger is contrary to God’s righteousness. Jesus got angry for good reasons (Mark 3:5), and Scripture elsewhere commands us to be angry, yet not sin (Eph 4:26; cf. Ps 4:4). But the quicker we are to get angry, the less likely our anger will be righteous.
But we can probe our question even deeper. We see that the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God because quickness to anger is the opposite of wisdom and will lead to foolish words and conduct. Solomon puts it like this:
Proverbs 14:29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
When a person is slow to anger, it reveals that they have “great understanding.” Great understanding of what? Of God, life, people, and what is truly beneficial to the soul. Let’s apply the truth of Proverbs 14:29:
- A man of understanding knows that quickness to anger will skew his judgment and make him hasty to speak, leading him to say things he will likely regret.
- He knows that slowness to anger will help him remain sober-minded, which will help him think clearly and speak well.
- He knows that it is more pleasant to live in peace than in strife.
- He knows that the relationships most precious to him can be destroyed if he has a hasty temper.
- He knows that his soul will be at peace when he keeps a good conscience and maintains peace among his family members, friends, colleagues, classmates, and church members.
- He knows that he is a sinner, and there is a high likelihood that he could sin in his anger, so, justified or not, he is slow to let his anger be kindled.
- He knows that quickness to anger will bring great trouble into his own life—broken relationships, damaged property, legal problems, and a loss of employment.
- He knows that being slow to anger will help him succeed in his earthly dealings and make fewer mistakes in judgment.
- He knows that when his conscience is defiled by his unrighteous anger that his ability to work profitably and fruitfully is greatly diminished. He knows that maintaining a good conscience and keeping relationships intact enables him to maintain diligence in his work because he is not burdened by the trouble his anger has caused.
- He knows that earthly life is better when he follows God’s wisdom in Scripture, and therefore aims to bridle his anger
In other words, a man of understanding has tasted of the pleasant fruit of wisdom (Prov 2:10) and therefore aims to always be slow to anger. As God reminded Israel millennia ago, his instructions were for their good (Deut 10:13). The same is true today. It is good for us when we are slow to anger: we reap the fruit of a good conscience, clarity of thought, and sound judgment. These inward qualities will lead to happy relationships and godly productivity. God will be glorified as we trust his word and walk in obedience, and we will enjoy the pleasant paths of wisdom.
