「不要因作惡的，忿忿不平。」－詩篇37:1
不要因任何事忿忿不平。
若人的怒氣能得神稱義，那詩人在這裡所發的烈怒必定得神稱義：「惡人穿著紫衣，終日宴樂」、「他們居政掌權，壓榨不幸的人」、「罪人四處橫行，驕縱蠻橫，得享太平」。
這樣的情景使義人憤愾難耐，熱血沸騰。
但神說：「不要因作惡的，忿忿不平。」
不要發怒！保持冷靜！即使有最好的理由，憤怒仍然無濟於事。
「人的忿怒並不成就神的義」－雅各書1:20火車車輪若過熱，就會阻礙前進的速度，產生無意義的摩擦；這時就需要上油使它運轉順暢。
當我們心懷不平時，我們也需要神在我們心裡「上油」，塗抹我們摩擦過熱的車輪，使我們繼續平順的往前。
忿忿不平，就是讓小小的砂礫跑進了我們生命的輪軸：些微的失望、不知感恩、無禮的舉止...等等。摩擦產生熱度，而過熱就會使我們失控。
因此，讓聖靈的膏油塗抹在你心的每一角落吧，使你不致因不當的怒氣而加入惡者的行列。
"Fret not thyself" (Ps. 37:1).Do not get into a perilous heat about things. If ever heat were justified, it was surely justified in the circumstances outlined in the Psalm. Evil-doers were moving about clothed in purple and fine linen, and faring sumptuously every day. "Workers of iniquity" were climbing into the supreme places of power, and were tyrannizing their less fortunate brethren. Sinful men and women were stalking through the land in the pride of life and basking in the light and comfort of great prosperity, and good men were becoming heated and fretful.
"Fret not thyself." Do not get unduly heated! Keep cool! Even in a good cause, fretfulness is not a wise help-meet. Fretting only heats the bearings; it does not generate the steam. It is no help to a train for the axles to get hot; their heat is only a hindrance. When the axles get heated, it is because of unnecessary friction; dry surfaces are grinding together, which ought to be kept in smooth co-operation by a delicate cushion of oil.
And is it not a suggestive fact that this word "fret" is closely akin to the word "friction," and is an indication of absence of the anointing oil of the grace of God?
In fretfulness, a little bit of grit gets into the bearings--some slight disappointment, some ingratitude, some discourtesy--and the smooth working of the life is checked. Friction begets heat; and with the heat, most dangerous conditions are created.
Do not let thy bearings get hot. Let the oil of the Lord keep thee cool, lest by reason of an unholy heat thou be reckoned among the evil-doers. --The Silver Lining
