Don’t Be Rash
The Bible is full of examples of men and women who met their downfall because of rash decisions.
Jephthah famously made a vow that if God gave the Ammonites into his hand, he would offer whatever came out from the doors of his house to meet him when he returned in peace. Tragically, the first one to greet him was his only daughter. Although he was grief stricken over this turn of events, he did with her according to his vow that he had made” (Judges 11:39).
King Saul also made a rash vow while in battle against the Philistines, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies” (1 Sam. 14:24). Not having heard Saul’s oath, Jonathan, his son, found honey and ate it. The sustenance, of course, gave him energy, and he led his men to a great victory. When he met his father later that day, Saul focused not on the victory God had won but on Jonathan’s defiance. The wrathful king would have murdered his own son had his men not stood in his way.
Peter was known for his impetuous nature. When Jesus was arrested, the passionate disciple drew a sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus rebuked him and said, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (John 18:11).
It’s human nature to rush to judgment, to instantly feel wounded, to flush with anger. Against these reactions, the Bible warns us not to trust our impulses. Our emotions often mislead us. Before acting, we should consider our options.
James said, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (Jas. 1:19). Slow down. Listen. Consider where the other person is coming from. You may not have all the information. Our anger is often misplaced, and we make our problems worse by being rash.
Later he writes,
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (5:7-11)
The word translated “patient” literally means “long in the passions.” “Longsuffering” is a better translation. The idea is of taking a breath or, as we sometimes say, “counting to ten,” before reacting to avoid saying or doing anything foolish.
It’s no wonder that James next says, “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’ be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation” (v. 12). As the examples above show, oaths are often rash and ill conceived.
Warnings against rash behavior should not be taken to the extent that we ignore our instincts. As we mature we develop a sense of right and wrong that will serve us well, even in unexpected situations. The writer of Hebrews described the mature as “those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:14). Many of us have looked back on mistakes we made because we failed to follow our gut.
The training we gain from spiritual maturity teaches us the habit of not behaving rashly. Our instincts, given time, will guide us to be patient and calculate a wise response.
Heed the warnings and don't be rash. Patience avoids much misery.
Drew Kizer