Together in Christ: 'Too Hot to Handle!' — Proverbs 22:24-25

Thursday, March 2, 2023

"Don't befriend angry people
     or associate with hot-tempered people,
or you will learn to be like them
     and endanger your soul."

— Proverbs 22:24-25 NLT

Key Thought

The book of Proverbs is full of wise principles for our relationships. This proverb needs no explanation. This unvarnished truth will save us from hurt feelings and being bullied by someone with a track record of explosive anger. But more than being bullied or emotionally wounded, this proverb warns us that befriending a person with a hot temper rubs off on us if we maintain that friendship. How important is this warning?

Very!

Maintaining a friendship with an angry person — someone who is hot-tempered —endangers our soul. The Holy Spirit warns us repeatedly that we should not admire or associate with angry people. [1] Let's heed the warning and teach those we influence to do the same!

[1] Proverbs 15:18, 16:29, 19:19, 29:22.

Today's Prayer

Mighty God, El Shaddai,* You alone are the sovereign God. Your anger is righteous and aroused appropriately at sin, abuse, and violence. However, my anger isn't always appropriate or directed at what makes You angry, O God. I sometimes react angrily to things in unrighteous ways. I ask for the Holy Spirit to awaken my heart to the warning of this proverb. I know that a mean-spirited and hot-tempered person's anger can rub off on me. So, dear Father, I ask that you pour your love into my heart through the Holy Spirit.^ and grow the fruit of the Spirit in me.~ Please remove any attraction I have to hot-tempered and angry people. I ask for this help in Jesus' name. Amen.

* El Shaddai is often translated as "Almighty" and probably derives from the thought "God of the mountains." God is mighty, and "El Shaddai" is one name for God Almighty.
^ Romans 5:5.
~ Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us that the fruit of the Spirit is "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Jesus emphasized in a parable that we must rid ourselves of evil influences in our lives and invite the Holy Spirit to fill us with good ones — Matthew 12:43-45.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Matthew 12:23-45
  • Genesis 4:1-16

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Illustration

Illustration of 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."

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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