He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. Proverbs 16:32

It is interesting that the wisdom of God puts greater value on persistant patience, longsuffering, and goodness than on sheer physical strength. Self-control was something that was more valued than military heroism. Who truly is the strong man? Is he the guy who can flex his muscles and take up a sword and lead an army? Or could it be the one who can control his own passions and prevent a battle from ever needing to take place?

Could it be that part of the downfall of Goliath was the anger with which he carried out his attack on David? Could it be that in running to the battle line, he did not take care to fight not just with strength, but with wisdom? Could it be that Egypt's anger and rage led them to ride foolishly into the midst of the Red Sea - when everything should have told them to halt their attack? So often the ability to rule our spirit is one of the most difficult things we have to do in life. To halt our tongue from speaking in anger - to refrain from entering the fray when our feelings are hurt - to stop a fight before it begins - all these are not easy things to do - and require a depth and strength of character that is often lacking in men and women.

Samson was indeed a strong, mighty man - physically. But he did not "rule his spirit" at all when it came to anger - and other more dangerous passions. In the end - though he did many mighty acts of valor - he was overcome by the wiles of a woman who knew his lack of control over his spirit. Great fighters know how to get their opponents angry - for then they will no longer be controlled by their mind - but by their rage. It is in such moments that the majority of them make a fatal mistake - and the more talented - more controlled boxer - finds his opening and knocks out his opponent with little more than a blow or two.

We too need to be men who not just physically are strong - but are spiritually and morally strong as well. But the truly wise among us know that such a feat of strength is beyond our flesh. It is only Christ Who truly mastered sin and took it to the grave with Him. He rose victorious over it - and granted to us, through His resurrection, the power to win this illusive victory. It is His power that will allow us to master the most difficult foe of all - that of mastery of our own spirit. Then, dear brothers and sisters, is when we are truly mighty - when we are truly strong - and when we are truly a champion. Just know that the only way this can happen is by coming to know and walk with the ONLY Champion - Jesus Christ!

"She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.  Proverbs 31:17

The godly woman is not the quintessential weak or frail woman.  According to God she is strong and does what is necessary to have physical strength in her arms.  Please do not misunderstand me to be saying that a godly woman is a fitness freak.  She isnrather a woman who knows that it is wise to be able to maintain her physical strength for the sake of her family, for the work God would have her do, and for even her own well-being.

As a guy who is getting older I am realizing the wisdom in taking better care of my physical well being.  You are much less effective in life when your health begins to fail.  This is worse when your health fails due to your own lack of wisdom and bad eating and exercise habits.  The wise woman knows this and takes care of herself.

The wise woman makes herself and her arms strong for a good reason.  At this point I am going to meddle a little for the sake of godliness for the ladies who read this.  When you read this passage you see why this godly woman seeks to be physically fit and strong.  She does it to be able to serve her Lord and her family.  She is not getting fit in order to be hot and look good in a bikini.  She is not doing it so that she can dress in tight clothes so she will have men compliment her on her figure and so women can tell her how skinny she is getting.  She does it for the glory of God, not for her own glory.  

Ladies, the Word encourages you to be wise, to remain strong, and to stay healthy.  It does so not so that you can serve the American cult of self-centered "hotness."  he encourages this so that you can be an effective godly woman who loves her husband and who loves her children.  In this way you will receive the only praise God desires for you to pursue - the praise of God Himself and the praise of your husband and children as they see in you that servant heart that brings glory to God and good to your family, church, and friends in Jesus name.

The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it? Proverbs 18:14

There are two kinds of sickness that can come upon us.  One is a sickness that we can endure and bear - but there is a second type mentioned in the Scripture that is impossible to bear without the work and grace of God being upon us.

We are told that the spirit of a man can endure his sickness.  This sickness mentioned here is the word used for various illnesses that come upon us due to the face that we live in a fallen world.  The entrance of sin into our world ruined it.  It also introduced sickness and death into our world as well.  But a man's spirit can help him endure his sickness.  I am about to share something that will cause some to react badly.  If we live in this world, we are going to face illness and sickness.  Because of the fall of man and the entrance of sin into our world - sickness also came into it as well.  What I mean by this is NOT that anyone who is sick must have sinned.  That is false doctrine.  But what I do mean is that when sin entered the human race - death did as well.  Now all things are running down - aging - and generally falling apart.  The second law of thermodynamics tells us that things are moving from order to disorder.  That is true in our very makeup itself.  Our cells are breaking down - our DNA is liable to mutation (which is never good) - and we will slowly fall apart until we physically die.  This is fact.  Those who think we can go through all of life simply confessing divine health - and therefore never having to be sick or adversely affected by the degeneration of our world or ourselves are sadly mistaken.  They to will die due to the sin of man.

Now, before I completely depress you, let me return to our proverb today.  Our spirit can help us endure sickness.  There is an inner strength that is granted to us in our spirit that helps us deal with the fact that we are human.  We will make it through sickness.  I've seen the extreme of this in believers who glorify God in the midst of terminal illnesses.  There is something so alive and strong in them - even in the midst of their last days.  They conquer death - even as they face it.  That is the power of God working in our spirits. 

But the Proverb does warn of a second sickness that is unbearable to the human condition.  "But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?"  The word for broken here is so telling.  It does not refer to what we experience at the end of a romance - the famous broken heart of romantic movies and novels.  This broken spirit is one that is stricken and scouraged.  It refers to more than just suffering.  It refers to when we come to see that everything we can live for in this life means nothing.  It is the brokenness that God actually seeks to bring us to in life.  It is a brokenness that cannot be cured with more stuff or more power.  It won't be solved by a new romance - or another boyfriend or girlfriend.  This brokenness goes to the very depths of our spirit.  It is God telling us that we cannot be self-repaired.  We need Him.  That is why the wise man poses the question, "Who can bear it?"  No one can - except he turn to God.  Only He can reach to the very core of our deadness and cause our spirit to come alive.  This work He does by the Spirit of God as He applies the gospel of Jesus Christ to our broken condition.  Then we find ourselves fixed - and actually far more than fixed.  We are reborn - and our spirit comes alive as the Holy Spirit grants us the very life of God. 

The wise man knows as he sees and endures the sicknesses of this present world that something is terribly wrong with this world.  The death that reigns over this present world points us to a much deeper death that reigns over our souls.  This brokenness of spirit can only be repaired by God.  He has given the cure in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  And . . . a wise man knows to turn to God for His ultimate remedy for a broken spirit.