10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a slave to rule over princes.
11 A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger,
And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.
12 The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.
14 House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15 Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And an idle [i]man will suffer hunger.
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who [j]is careless of [k]conduct will die.
17 One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord,
And He will repay him for his [l]good deed.
18 Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not desire [m]his death.
19 A man of great anger will bear the penalty,
For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.
Being slow to anger, that seems to be the theme in this passage. To be terribly difficult to offend, and to be willing to overlook such offense, Solomon calls it a glory. Indeed, it is a difficult thing to do, as we all know, and certainly contrary to our flesh. Even more so is it contrary to our culture, where everything, even previously innocent words, are a cause for offense.
If you find yourself getting bent out of shape, ruminating on how you’ve been wronged, sit back and take a page from Solomon. Show discretion, as the saying goes, which is “the better part of valor.” It isn’t just a glory to overlook an offense, but valor itself. Unlike many who would label meekness as weakness, being difficult to offend takes great fortitude, and a helping hand from our Father as well.
Even for a leader, like a king or president, wrath is like a lion showing off–I’ve heard it is the toothless ones who roar the loudest. But showing favor is as refreshing as “dew on the grass”. Contention is certainly not becoming for a wife, but neither is it for any of us, and “it takes two to fight”. Okay, we get the point (I hope), it isn’t good to be always fighting, arguing, venting, etc.
But there are exceptions, we discipline our children, not because they are wrong and we’re upset, but to show love and to make them better. We should desire to show them how to live like Jesus, and that means a healthy dose of love and humility, even admitting you’re not perfect… gasp!
Likewise, Solomon tells us we shouldn’t bestow grace on “a man of great anger.” Not that we rise to the occasion and duel to the death, but we don’t bail them out of their mess, or they’ll only do the same stupid thing. Still, model the grace we have in Jesus, which often dilutes such tirades and shows them for the foolishness they are.
All of this patience and “un-offendability” takes a great deal more than most of us have within us, and means we need God’s strength. And we need to be reminded (often) of the parable of the forgiven debtor. He went out and threw the man who owed him pennies into debtors prison. We, who have been forgiven everything, ought not to hold a record of wrongs, but should “forgive those who trespass against us” until our Maker calls us home.