Prov 20:3 It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel.
A faithful man can manage his emotions. In the context we are talking specifically about anger, temper, etc. I will admit that I have struggled with this one for years. I know that each time that I have failed to control my emotions related to anger, it has always led to problems. It might be road rage or giving someone a piece of my mind, but it never leads to good.
We are told in Proverbs 22:24 to make no friendship with an angry man. And the next verse tells us why, lest you learn his ways. It is implied that the problem is not necessarily the emotion, but the action that follows. His ways, or his actions, are the issue.
The New Testament passage in Ephesians 4:26 reminds us to be angry and sin not. Thus the sin must be in our actions associated with our anger.
We know the sin is not in the emotion alone because Mark 3:5 tells us Jesus was angry. Anger is a natural emotion. It is the uncontrolled actions and words that can become sin.
The passage in Ephesians 4:26 actually comes from Psalm 4:4. Reading the rest of Psalm 4:4 adds an interesting thought.
Be angry and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still.
The word for angry in this passage means to tremble. Have you ever been so angry you are trembling? Yet the Bible says when this happens you are to lie on your bed and meditate or literally have a conversation with self.
Maybe there was something to the children’s admonition to count to 10 when angry.
There are other emotions for which the faithful man must control but anger is certainly one that often leads to trouble.
To control one’s emotions is a mark of maturity and one of the characteristics of the faithful man.