day 6

第六日 愛是不輕易發怒 (Love is not Irritable)

¨ 經文: 不輕易發怒的，勝過勇士；治服己心的，強如取城。箴言16:32

¨ 愛的行動：今日在不容易的情形時請不要發怒，選擇用愛的方式回應。

¨ 信息摘要：” Love is hard to offend and quick to forgive. …To be irritable means “to be near the point of a knife.” …People who are irritable are locked, loaded, and ready to overreact. When under pressure, love doesn’t turn sour. Minor problems don’t yield major reactions. The truth is , love does not get angry or hurt unless there is a legitimate and just reason in the sight of God. A loving husband will remain calm and patient, showing mercy and restraining his temper. … A loving wife is not overly sensitive or cranky but exercises emotional self-control. …Ask yourself, “Am I a calming breeze, or a storm waiting to happen?” Why do people become irritable?
· Stress. Stress weighs you down, drains your energy, weakens your health and invites you to be cranky. It can be brought on by relational causes: arguing, division, and bitterness. There are excessive causes: overworking, overplaying, and overspending. And there are deficiencies: not getting enough rest, nutrition, or exercise. …Life is a marathon, not a sprint. This means you must balance, prioritize, and pace yourself. …The increasing pressure can wear away at our patience and our relationship. (Col. 3:12-14; Phil 4:6-7; Exodus 18:17-23) …It also exhorts you to take a “Sabbath” vacation day every week for worship and rest.
· Selfishness. Some people are like lemons: when life squeezes them, they pour out a sour response. Some are more like peaches: when the pressure is on, the result is still sweet. Being easily angered is an indicator that a hidden area of selfishness or insecurity is present where love is supposed to rule. But selfishness also wears many other masks; Lust, for example, is the result of being ungrateful for what you have and choosing to covet or burn with passion for something that is forbidden. When your heart is lustful, it will become easily frustrated and angered. Bitterness takes root when you respond in a judgmental way and refuse to work through your anger. A bitter person’s unresolved anger leaks out when he is provoked (Eph 4:31). Greed for more money and possessions will frustrate you with unfulfilled desires (I Tim. 6:9-10) These strong cravings coupled with dissatisfaction lead you to lash out at anyone who stands in your way. Pride leads you to act harshly in order to protect your ego and reputation.
… Love will lead you to forgive instead of holding a grudge. To be grateful instead of greedy. To be content rather than rushing into more debt. Love encourages you to be happy when someone else succeeds rather than lying awake at night in envy. Love says “share the inheritance” rather than “fight with your relatives.” It reminds you to prioritize your family rather than sacrifice them for a promotion at work. In each decision, love ultimately lowers your stress and helps you release the venom that can build up inside. It then sets up your heart to respond to your spouse with patience and encouragement rather than anger and exasperation.
_____ 若你做到今日的挑戰，在此處打勾
Where do you need to add margin to your life? When have you recently overreacted? What was your real motivation behind it? What decisions have you made today?
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