by Pastor John Kim

Jonathan Edwards Resolution #47
Resolved, to endeavor, to my utmost, to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented and easy, compassionate and generous, humble and meek, submissive and obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable and even, patient, moderate, forgiving and sincere temper; and to do at all times, what such a temper would lead me to; and to examine strictly, at the end of every week, whether I have done so. (Sabbath morning. May 5, 1723)

How is your temper? Have you lost it lately? What does it mean to lose your temper? I think for many people, the issue is not so much about losing your temper but about choosing what kind of temper you will exercise. Your temper is not a passive entity that is subject to the whims and winds of circumstances. You actually can choose how you will respond to the trials and challenges of life. But this can only happen when the Holy Spirit has filled you and is the source from which you are able to exercise the kind of temper that would truly glorify and magnfiy Christ.

When I first read this sentence by Edwards, I had to start laughing because of how many adjectives he uses to describe the kind of temper that he would try to cultivate. Here are some thoughts that seem to come out of this resolution:

1. He is resolved to deny what is NOT agreeable to this kind of temper. In other words Edwards is wanting to really do everything he can, “to my utmost,” to make sure that he is not contradicting in any way the kind of temper that he desires to exercise.

2. He is resolved “to do at all times, what such a temper would lead me to” – his actions are to reflect the kind of temper that he is seeking to exercise.

3. He is holding himself accountable at the end of each week to see how he has done. This is just some kind of one time attempt. He really is seeking to establish this as a discipline in to his life.

4. The list is quite extensive here in how comprehensive his temper should be exercised:

• Good – pretty straight forward – GOOD temper versus a BAD temper
• Universally sweet – could this be the extent to which this kind of temper would reach and would “sweet” be preferred to “sour”?
• Quiet – as opposed to loud?
• Peaceable – as opposed to being quarrelsome, pugnacious, given to instigating conflict
• Contented – someone who is not always grasping for more or envious toward others
• Easy – not so complicated and difficult to deal with
• Compassionate – a genuine love and care for others
• Generous – a servant’s heart to give and to serve, not with a tight-fisted attitude but one that is willing to give in an overflowing kind of way
• Humble – not boastful and seeking self-recognition
• Meek – exercising self-control and is not given to seeking self-glory
• Submissive – willing to follow and be subject to authority with a sincere heart
• Obliging – considerate and willing to think of others
• Diligent – hard-working and not taking the easy route
• Industrious – someone who makes the most of a situation, who works creatively for a good purpose
• Charitable – loving, gracious, willing to give graciously
• Even – balanced, not easily pushed over
• Patient – longsuffering, willing to bear other’s burdens
• Moderate – not given to extreme emotional displays that reflect a measure of lacking self-control
• Forgiving – the willingness to show grace and mercy even in light of being wronged
• Sincere – as opposed to being hypocritical, fake, or insincere in how they would present themselves

I suppose that I could have gone into more detail for each character quality – I’ll let you meditate on these thoughts and see if you could come up with more. But suffice it to say that there are many who would struggle with having the kind of temper that truly honors God. Too many Christians are short-tempered and easily given over to fits of anger and rage or despair or disconsolation that it does disservice to the truth that we have an all-powerful God who resides within us through the Holy Spirit to enable us to shine the light of the glory of Christ through our lives, particularly in how we respond to the circumstances of life. That’s why James 1:2 says that we should consider it all joy WHEN we encounter various trials, not IF we encounter various trials. We will face difficulties that will test our faith but our temper should not be swayed by them in the same way as those who do not have Christ as Lord and Savior.

Think about that the next time you “lose” your temper. It’s not that you lost it but rather that you chose to quit denyinig that which is agreeable to the kind of Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-filled, God-exalting temper that reflects the kind of redeemed heart that has been saved by the grace and mercy of God in Christ.

Let that keep your tempers in check =)

In His grace,
Pastor John