Are you generally a person who sticks at nothing, plays with fire, walks on thin ice, takes a leap in the dark, clutches at straws, leans on a broken reed, throws caution to the wind, puts all your eggs in one basket, and tempts Providence?
Then you are a rash person.
The Holy Spirit wants to impart His Wisdom into your life today through His Word, changing you into a more cautious, deliberate, and wise person. 
 
Many of God's children are heedless, impetuous, thoughtless, wild, hotheaded, brash, and foolish. They don't think before they speak or act. They are always in a hurry to get things done. Resultantly, much harm and shame is brought to the Kingdom of God.
 
God wants to change these negative traits in His people. He desires to have followers who are knowledgeable of His ways, have great understanding, are patient, deliberate, diligent, considerate, and cautious in what they say and do.
 
Let's look into the Scriptures and see what they teach about being rash.
With an open heart, let's allow the Holy Spirit to place the mirror of His Word before our hearts and see where we need to make some changes for the Glory of God.
 
1. Hasty Temper
 
Proverbs 14:29 - "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly."
Ecclesiastes 7:9 - "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools."
 
It is a known fact that anger yields mistakes. In other words, a quick-tempered person is prone to do very stupid things.
 
It is said of him that he "exalteth folly." What that means is that he displays, exposes, makes known, or lifts up on high foolishness so that it is visible before all. 
 
This angry man, who is "hasty in spirit," is driven by unbridled passions - easily irritated, agitated, or provoked - and consumed with himself. He cannot stand any delays; he must have his desires immediately gratified. He resents any affronts, harboring malice toward or seeking revenge against those who stand in his way.

The Scriptures tell us that  - "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding..." Instead of being "hasty of spirit," God wants you to be "of great understanding" - patient, meek, "of a slow fuse," and wise - rightly understanding your self, duty, and faults as well as the faults of others.
 
2. Hasty Decisions
 
Proverbs 19:2 - "Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth."
 
Does it matter if we know God or have a knowledge of His Word, ways, and will?
Solomon answered that question for us by telling us that an ignorant soul was "not good." 
 
There are many who have zeal, but they lack knowledge.
They have desire and passion - but no wisdom, discretion, or understanding.

The Scripture says - "...he that hasteth with his feet sinneth."
 
In other words, a lack of the knowledge of the Word of God causes one to be - ...overhasty...in a hurry...moving too quickly without instruction, consideration, or deliberation...rash or headstrong. He ends up disobeying God, missing the mark, going the wrong way, taking false steps, wounding his soul, and even coming to ruin.

Perhaps already you have experienced emotional wounds and much heartache because you rushed into a situation without waiting for the counsel of the Lord.
 
God doesn't delight in seeing you make serious mistakes or miss His perfect Will for your life. He wants to impart to you the necessary wisdom and knowledge for each situation that you face. But you must take the time to diligently seek Him - allowing no distractions to hinder you. 
 
3. Hasty Shortcuts
 
Proverbs 21:5 - "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want."
 
We live in a society where most people want something for nothing. Most are lazy and want everything "handed to them on a silver platter." They don't want to gain wealth through hard work - while improving all opportunities and overcoming all obstacles. They reject any steady plodding or planning. They are very impatient.- always looking for shortcuts along the way.
 
King Solomon instructed us that - "every one that is hasty" - rash, greedy, or won't take the time to think things through - comes to poverty or "want."
 
It is the steadily, diligent person - the one who works hard and consistently on the same project from day to day - who eventually tastes the fruits of prosperity or plenty - "plenteousness."

God wants you to finish what you started. He doesn't want you to leave a task because you lost interest, or because you ran into some difficulties. His children are not quitters. Nor are they rash or lazy -producing inferior or inadequate results.
 
4. Hasty Arguments
 
Proverbs 25:8 - "Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to shame."
 
There is such a mad rush in our society today to "hastily" run off to the courts in order to settle our differences. Nowadays, people sue for the most ridiculous reasons. These are the ones whom Solomon referred to as "going...forth hastily to strive..." Oftentimes, "in the end" they are humiliated and shamed by their "neighbor" and left with insurmountable expenses, trouble, and failure.
 
You may not run to the courts every time that you enter into an argument with your "neighbor," but you may be a hothead who is always "at odds" with someone in your life. God is not pleased. He desires that you "live in peace"(2 Corinthians 13:11) with others and not be so ready to defend yourself or your point of view. 
 
5. Hasty Speech
 
Proverbs 29:20 - "Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him."
Ecclesiastes 5:2 - "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few."
 
In the Illustrations Of Bible Truth, we find the following story - "Once a young man came to that great philosopher Socrates to be instructed in oratory. The moment the young man was introduced he began to talk, and there was an incessant stream for some time. When Socrates could get in a word, he said, 'Young man, I will have to charge you a double fee.' 'A double fee, why is that?' The old sage replied, 'I will have to teach you two lessons. First, how to hold your tongue, and then how to use it.' What an art for all of us to learn, especially for Christians."
 
So many of God's people are "hasty" in their words or "rash with their mouth." They speak without thinking. Because of pride, conceit, and self-confidence in their hearts, they simply do not  choose their words carefully. They end up speaking whatever first comes to mind. Rather than listening to others, they always want to be heard. 
 
They really run into problems when they start making rash promises to God. Especially when in times of trouble, their heart is hasty to utter foolish vows, hoping that He will quickly change their adverse circumstances.
 
God would have His people to be very cautious and considerate in their speech. Like Socrates, He wants His disciples to weigh their words carefully - to think much and speak little.

His desire for you is that your "words be few" but meaningful. He wants to teach you how to hold your tongue, and then how to use it.

Having a Hasty Temper...Making Hasty Decisions...Looking for Hasty Shortcuts... Always Entangled in Hasty Arguments...or Guilty of Hasty Speech - do some or all of these characteristics describe you, O Christian?
 
God wants to change your behavior today. He wants to impart His Wisdom to you and transform you into a patient, cautious, conscientious, considerate, and diligent person. He wants to bring every area of your life under His "yoke" or control.

May God Bless His Word.
Connie