November 28
The Fight
Over a TV
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
James 1:19-20 (NIrV)
Zane had been waiting for this moment all year. It was Black Friday, and he was at the front of the line, eager to grab the unbelievable deal on the flat-screen TV that the store was offering. He had saved up for months, and this was his chance to get something he'd been wanting for a long time. He arrived early, knowing it would be a mad rush, and when he walked into the store, the shelves were already half-empty.
Zane rushed straight to the electronics section, and there it was—the last TV on the shelf. He grinned as he reached for the corner of the box, imagining it sitting proudly in his living room. But before he could lift it, another hand grabbed the other end.
“It’s mine!” Zane said, pulling the box toward him.
“No, I was here first!” came the response from the man on the other end.
What followed was a heated argument, both men pulling on the box, each claiming the TV as their own. Zane’s pulse quickened as he shouted at the man, demanding that he let go. The man shouted back, refusing to back down. The tension in the store grew as other shoppers turned to watch.
The shouting escalated into a physical struggle, and before long, security was called. The situation only got worse. The police arrived, and both Zane and the other man were cautioned for causing a disturbance. In the end, neither of them got the TV, and they were told to leave the store.
As Zane walked out into the cold, his anger began to fade. He realized how foolish he had acted. He hadn’t come to the store to fight. He had come for a good deal, but he had let his emotions take control. As he sat in his car, Zane couldn’t stop replaying the events in his mind. Why had he let something as simple as a TV cause such an outburst? Was a TV really worth fighting for?
That evening, Zane sat quietly in his room. He picked up his phone and scrolled through social media. He saw people posting about their Black Friday hauls, sharing their new purchases with pride. Zane’s mind kept coming back to the argument, to the way his anger had taken over.
He closed his eyes and remembered a verse he had heard in church, one that seemed to echo in his mind: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” The words stood out to him more than ever before. He realized how often he rushed to speak, to defend himself, without thinking of the consequences. He hadn’t listened to the other man, he hadn’t taken a moment to think through his actions. Anger had clouded his judgment.
In that quiet moment, Zane prayed. “God, I’m sorry. I acted out of anger today, and it led to nothing good. Please help me to be slow to speak, slow to anger, and quick to listen. Help me to remember what truly matters in life, and not let things like stuff control me. Amen.”
The next morning, Zane woke up with a clearer mind. He knew that the TV wasn’t worth the fight. It wasn’t worth the stress or the anger. He realized that when he put his hope in material things, he would only be left wanting more. But when he turned to God for strength and wisdom, he could find peace, even in frustrating situations. Zane decided to be more mindful of his emotions going forward, remembering that peace and patience were far more valuable than any object.
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank You for Your patience and love.
Today, I learned the hard way how easy it is to let anger take control.
Please help me to be slow to anger, quick to listen, and slow to speak.
I don’t want to let petty things, like material possessions, rule my emotions.
Help me to find peace in You and to remember what truly matters in life.
Guide me to make decisions with wisdom and humility, and to trust in Your timing and plan.
Thank You for Your forgiveness and for teaching me to be more like You.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
