Proverbs 22:24-25 (NLT)
Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.
There are three aspects to this verse that we need to notice and discuss.
The first thing we need to understand is very obvious: We don’t need to spend time with angry or hot-tempered people.
Anger and a short temper breed negativity and negativity sucks all the good air out of any room it enters. For your sake and the sake of the many people you’re sure to run into, don’t spend your time around people like this.
The second thing we need to understand is this: We need to make sure that WE aren’t the angry or hot-tempered person.
Is it possible that we are the person that God is telling people to not befriend? Of course it is… As Christians, we have to be very conscientious of our attitudes. There’s no way we can share the Gospel with anyone if we’re living a life that leaves us in a constantly angry state. Many angry people love to blame those around them for their anger but we all know this is just an excuse. We all make a daily decision as to how we are going to live. If you’re content breeding anger in your life, that’s a decision you’ve made… Not the people around you.
The third and final thing we need to understand is this: We will learn to be like the people we spend the most time with.
If you spend the majority of your time around thieves, you’re probably going to end up being a thief too. If you spend the majority of your time around poets, you’re probably going to be a poet too. If you spend the majority of your time around Pearl Jam fanatics, you’re probably going to begin enjoying Pearl Jam as well. In the same way, if you spend the majority of your time around authentic followers of Christ, you will find yourself authentically following Christ as well. Conversely, if you only spend time with Christ-followers at church 2 or 3 hours a week, it’s going to be very hard for you to follow Christ.
We have to choose to not let anger control us!
We have to choose to avoid spending time with angry people and instead surround ourselves with godly people!
Finally, we have to choose to be a godly person who will benefit and build up the people we spend time with!
Ask God to make these things true of you today! Don’t wait until tomorrow!
Make your move!
