Today’s Reading, Proverbs 22-24
Focal Scripture: Proverbs 22:24-25 “Don’t make friends with an angry person, and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered one, or you will learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”
You will meet a lot of people in your life. Some people will have very magnetic personalities and some people will be moody. Unfortunately , you will also meet people who are angry and hot tempered. I have experienced this a few times in my life. The most angry person I have ever met was my father. He could flip the switch quicker than anyone I have ever met. Some people believed that he was funny and even was a great leader at his job. People were loyal to him and would follow him anywhere. However, people didn’t get to see what happens behind closed doors. It was bad, and caused lots of damage for many people. It was so bad that I had to cut him off for years because of his demeanor and speech. I could not be around a person who was always angry and hot tempered.
In today’s reading Solomon address this in the scriptures. He tells his son to not be friends with an angry person. Then don’t be a companion with a hot tempered person. Why? Because you will learn his ways and it will become a snare to his son. Anger is a very easy emotion to emulate and mimic. It causes damage and leaves bodies in its wake. Solomon wanted his son to avoid these dangerous people and teachings.
I never really got to see my father not be angry or hot tempered. However, I can say that the Lord did a work and saved him on his death bed. I often wonder what he would have been like if he wasn’t so mean and angry all the time. One day I will get to see the redeemed version of my father. I am not sure what that will be like but it will be a very interesting reunion.
Then you will have to not associate with people in your life that are angry and hot tempered. I left a job for this reason one time because the leader constantly spoke angrily about others and would constantly fly off the handle. He would try to compose himself around others but behind closed doors his full wrath was revealed. This is why I had to leave because I did not want his leadership style rubbing off on me and I did not want to be associated with him and his personality.
Making these decisions in your life is never easy. However, they are necessary. Some people won’t understand your convictions. Other people will label you as soft and not able to handle criticism. Just remember that any person or organization that defends or k makes excuses for angry and hot tempered people have already fallen victim to the snare.
Our job as believers is to live differently and to live with the same attitude of Christ. It’s ok to not be friends with or work with negative and hateful people. Just beware that if you expose the truth they will come after you with all of their anger and hot temper. Thankfully, you don’t answer to them but to the Lord.
Do what biblical even when others refuse to do so in their lives.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading 1 Kings 5-6 & 2 Chronicles 2-3
