Wisdom from Proverbs 3: Why Does It Matter to Have Patience?

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To enjoy our relationship with people, we need to learn how to control our temper and avoid doing unnecessary things because of anger. Proverbs tell us a lot more things about the benefits of showing patience in every matter that we deal with. Here are some of them:

1) Someone who is patient shows that he has great understanding. But someone who is impatient shows foolishness.

“A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.”–Proverbs 14:29

2) Someone who is impatient causes quarrels, but someone who is patient calms them.

“A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.”–Proverbs 15:18

3) Our patience in difficult situations shows that we have wisdom (or are wise). We gain honor when we show patience.

“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”–Proverbs 19:11

4) Knowledge makes us more careful about what we say, and good understanding of things and situations makes us patient.

“A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.”–Proverbs 17:27

5) Someone who is patient may prove to be better than someone who can fight in a war. His ability to control his temper may be more beneficial than a warrior’s ability to conquer a city.

“Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.”–Proverbs 16:32

6) Someone who is patient can persuade a ruler, and someone who speaks gently can change a heart.

“Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.”–Proverbs 25:15

7) Someone who has knowledge and understanding can maintain order.

“When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.”–Proverbs 28:2

8 ) A foolish man shows anger easily but a wise man controls himself.

“A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.”–Proverbs 29:11

9) Mockers can cause chaos in a city, but wise men can keep people calm.

“Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.”–Proverbs 29:8

10) An impatient man will have to pay for the consequences of his impatience. Someone who offers him help may have to do it again.

“A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.”–Proverbs 19:19

11) An impatient man is inclined to do foolish things.

“A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated.”–Proverbs 14:17

12) Someone who loves to quarrel with people does not think much about avoiding sin.”

“He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction.”–Proverbs 17:19

References:

Student Bible(NIV)