The Lap Of Fools

• Have you ever made an assumption that turned out to be wrong? Describe your experience.

• What does it mean to provoke someone?

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:9

While we are on this earth, we will never understand the big picture. We are not wise like God. We don’t know the past. We don’t know the future. And we don’t know what is going on in someone else’s heart.

When something happens that upsets you or makes you angry, don’t assume you know what’s happening behind the scenes. While you may well have been offended, and you may even have a legitimate reason to be angry, you still have an opportunity to honor God by slowing your reaction time, admitting that you don’t have all the facts and acting graciously.

Anger resides in the lap of fools. Some people just wander around looking for reasons to be angry. They are easily offended and get a kind of satisfaction from it. You don’t want to spend your time on this foolishness.

You want to be the person who takes a step back and acts with kindness. You want to be the person who doesn’t make assumptions and who avoids unnecessary quarrels.

PRAYER
Dear God, help us to be patient with others. Help us to not be quickly provoked in the spirit. Amen.