A person’s growth or maturity can also be measured in terms of his or her emotions. Emotion is described as a strong feeling that is derived from one’s circumstances, mood, or relationships with others; feelings such as happiness, love, fear, anger, or hatred, which is caused by ones prevailing situation, or the people that surround one. These feelings are accompanied by physiological and behavioural changes.
The kind of behaviour that is demonstrated in the face of either negative or positive circumstances shows an individual’s emotional strength or intelligence.
He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls (Proverbs 25:28)
Like a city that is broken down and without walls (leaving it unprotected) Is a man who has no self-control over his spirit (and sets himself up for trouble) (Proverbs 25:38 (AMP)
One can either be reactive or proactive in life. When you are easily swayed by the words of men, when you engage in pity party, and allow offense in your heart, it is a sign of being reactive. When you get angry with ease, though scripture says, be angry, with a caution, but sin not. I can interpret that to mean one can be angry against wickedness, unrighteousness and everything that appears like evil. But when it comes to human beings, there must be a control.
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city (Proverbs 16:32)
It is better to be patient than powerful. It is better to win control over yourself than over whole cities (Proverbs 16:32 GNT)
A man that does not exercise restraint can set himself up for trouble. Joseph is an example of a man that demonstrated self-control over his sexuality when Mrs. Portiphar tempted him with fornication. She compelled him day and night yet he refused to hearken unto her, Genesis 39:7-13
It must have taken emotional maturity for him to succeed in achieving this, not minding the consequence. Reuben messed up his destiny because of lack of emotional restraint. Emotional maturity is the ability to know what is right from what is wrong, and to choose to do the right thing no matter the pressure. This was the same mistake David made with Bathsheba that made the sword not to depart from his family.
Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife (2 Samuel 12: 10)
What you refuse to control can end up controlling you. Judas’ inability to exercise self-control made him die before his time. He did not deal with his challenge and cravings for money.
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him (Matthew 26:14-16).
He sold his master for the money he did not live to spend.
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself (Matthew 27:5)
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