A Soft Answer

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Prov. 15:1).

The fastest way to turn a disagreement into an argument is by saying something rash and hurtful. Solomon states here that it is better to greet an angry response with "soft" words. This may sound easy, but it really takes a lot of discipline. When someone is standing in your face, telling you how worthless you are, saying things about your family, or threatening to beat you to a pulp, it isn't always easy to smile and say something nice.

Our natural tendency is to defend ourselves and the reputations of our loved ones. We want to fight fire with fire. Solomon warns that when we fight fire with fire, we get burned. We have to be ready for confrontation and choose our words wisely. Sometimes, it is best to say nothing at all. Other times, we might say something simple like, "I'm sorry you feel that way." Reflecting God's character goes against the old nature. When we meet anger with love, Christ's life is demonstrated through us.

We need to remember, however, that our answers won't always turn away wrath, no matter how gentle they are. Some anger is so deeply rooted in a person's heart, that they are unmoved by the kindness of others. Also, there will be times when people's anger toward us reflects their underlying hatred for God. Thus, the more we reflect him, the angrier they will get. No matter the response, wisdom dictates that we prepare our hearts to respond in Christ centered gentleness.