Tuesday, April 30 ~ A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a discerning man will remain calm.​—Prov. 17:27.

[GrumpysWife]

Tuesday, April 30

A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a discerning man will remain calm.—Prov. 17:27.

 

If you have disfellowshipped relatives, you may need to control your feelings in order to avoid unnecessary contact with them. Self-restraint in such situations is easier if we realize that our actions are in line with God’s example and in harmony with his counsel. A notable example is King David. He wielded great power but refrained from using it out of anger when provoked by Saul and Shimei. (1 Sam. 26:9-11; 2 Sam. 16:5-10) That is not to say that David always controlled himself, as we know from his sin with Bath-sheba and his initial reaction to Nabal’s greed. (1 Sam. 25:10-13; 2 Sam. 11:2-4) Nevertheless, we can learn valuable lessons from David. First, overseers among God’s people need to be especially careful to exercise self-control so that they do not abuse their authority. Second, no one can be complacent, thinking that he is safe from temptation.—1 Cor. 10:12. w17.09 5-6 ¶12-13