Chaos or Calm
A godless man is governed by his self-centered impulses and self-willed desires. Not so for the man controlled by God’s Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-24). In Proverbs 29:8, 11 Soloman provides a contrast between those governed by their sin nature and those governed by God’s Spirit. Specifically, Proverbs 29:8 contrasts the chaos a godless man creates in his community with the peace a godly man seeks and inspires in his community. Proverbs 29:8 reads, Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.
In Proverbs, a mocker (also translated “scoffer” or “scorner”) is a man whose life is marked by pride and arrogance (Proverbs 21:24). He is a law unto himself. He has no regard for God’s truth and habitually rejects rebuke and correction (Proverbs 9:8; 15:12). Because he is hard-hearted, the mocker is unable to comprehend God’s wisdom (Proverbs 14:6). Proverbs 29:8 warns that godless, self-absorbed mockers create conflict and chaos in their communities. Because of this Proverbs 22:10 suggests a straight-forward solution to strife and conflict—expel mockers/scoffers from the community.
Unlike the mocker, a wise man “turns away anger.” A godly man seeks unity and peace. Romans 12:16-18 says that a wise man governed by God’s Spirit strives to “live in harmony” with others, “not repaying evil for evil,” being careful “to do what is right in the eyes of everybody,” and as far as it depends on him to “live at peace with everyone.”
One of the clearest biblical illustrations of the contrast between a mocker who “stirs up a city” and a wise man who “turns away anger” is found in Acts 19:23-41. When Paul’s preaching of Christ began to impact the financial well-being of idol-making silversmiths in Ephesus, a God-mocking man named Demetrius stirred up a riot endangering Paul, those he’d led to Christ, and the community at large. By contrast, the city clerk demonstrated his wisdom when he quieted the crowd and dismissed the assembly to their homes (Acts 19:35-41).
The power of mockers to create chaos and stir up trouble remains evident today. In our own nation, scoffers actively plant seeds of political, racial, and social division. Too often dialogue is replaced by “cancel culture” and slander. Grace, empathy, and a willingness to at least try to understand another person’s viewpoint have all but disappeared from the public square. As believers, how should we respond? If we respond to arrogance with arrogance and to anger with anger—do we not become mockers ourselves? Rather, should we not respond with gentleness (Proverbs 15:1)? Embracing God’s wisdom, should we not offer our opponents God’s grace (1 Peter 3:14-17)? As believers we must learn to control how we respond to people and situations that produce anger in our own hearts. Our second verse, Proverbs 29:11 addresses this. It reminds us, A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
An essential mark of Christian maturity is the ability to control (by the power of God’s Spirit) one’s temper. The person who cannot control his temper is slave to his impulses, his emotions, and the manipulation of others. Uncontrolled outbursts of anger are self-destructive. Worse, such outbursts have the power to devastate those we love most. Countless children, spouses, and churches bear the scars of physical and emotional violence caused by uncontrolled anger. Angry violent acts cannot be undone. Angry violent words cannot be unspoken.
How, then, do we overcome godless anger? Our hope is found in Christ and a deepening walk with Him. In Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells us. He bears his fruit in our hearts and lives—the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Godless anger and the fruit of God’s Spirit cannot coexist. No wonder Paul instructs us, “let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). May the fruit of God’s Spirit grow in us as we walk together in Christ.