If you want to live a great life, watch your lips. Even a fool is counted wise if he simply keeps quiet. The bible commands us to be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to be angry (James 1:19). God knows that when humans feel offended, many do not know how to control their emotions. They let their emotions control them and in this they are quick to anger, quick to speak but slow to listen.
We are a beautiful nation with over fifty (50) tribes. God has given us such diverse cultures that are not meant to weaken one tribe against another but rather unite us to the glory of God. We are all created in the image of God and are one in Him. When we feel offended by a person or group of people, we must not forget God’s order of slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to be angry.
The only thing God tells us to be quick at is listening, not anger or speech. When you are angry, your speech can be very destructive and you will listen to no one.
We learn by listening not by talking. When our emotions start to lead us, we go down to destruction. An emotionally charged leader should watch what comes out of their mouth. As leaders, if we feel like we are losing on the logical part, we tend to pull up the emotional part by playing our tribal cards. We know that if we pull up our tribal cards, we are tapping into the fears of our tribesmen.
The greatest fear of our tribesmen is the fear of becoming extinct as a tribe. With this tribal card, we get the emotions and discard the logic of our fellow tribesmen. As long as the fear of extinction comes in, they will start behaving in a way they think will make them survive. They are convinced that it is “Them against Us”. This attitude will lead them to the conduct of, “Extinct them before we become extinct”. That is how Rwanda suffered genocide.
We are all one, not “us against them” or “them against us”. God will never allow any tribe to be extinct, therefore, reject all forms of fear that your tribe is about to be extinct. Let us love one another and refuse to reason with our emotions but respect the logic God has given us.
Quick to listen (teachable spirit), Slow to speak (giving others the advantage), Slow to be angry (harness your emotions); that is how we relate with others and stay unified no matter what comes our way. Different tribes, One people!
Cyrus Rod is a Pastor, Television show host and author. He is the founder of Cyrus Rod Ministries which includes Dominion Faith Church located in Kampala.
