CAREFUL WHO YOU RUN WITH
Proverbs 22:24-25 NKJV
24 Make no friendship with an angry man,
And with a furious man do not go,
25 Lest you learn his ways
And set a snare for your soul.
My parents always warned me about who I hung around with. Who my “running buddies” were was important to them, and they were right. There are many old adages out there that are still applicable. Such as, ‘you are known by the company you keep.’ And, ‘show me your friends, and I will show you your future.’ Neither of these is Scripture, but they have a definite grain of truth to them. Our verses for today echo that same truth.
Don’t make friends and hang out with angry, furious people. Why? If you hang around with these people, you can learn their ways. And the problem with learning their ways? You set a snare for your soul. The Hebrew word for snare is a trap. By hanging around with angry people, you’ll set a trap for your soul.
The word soul can be used in a couple of ways. Walking in angry, furious ways is not a good place to be in your soul, your life. We all have heard of the people who just went off in anger, and people were abused; relationships were torched, or in some extreme cases, people lost their lives. Think of the road rage situations that took a perceived slight and escalated it to the point of no return. Soul can also be used to describe the inner man and our inner life. Anger and wrath are never purported to be emotions that are good for our inner man. The scriptures warn us to be angry but not to sin. Also, to not let the sun go down on anger. Don’t hold onto anger; it doesn’t age well. But if you are around angry, furious people, it will be much harder to let go of that anger. The environment you surround yourself with will have an impact. I wrote a few weeks back about Lot, who tormented his righteous soul by what he saw and heard in the sinful environment of Sodom and Gomorrah. An angry environment is not good for your inner man.
As I was looking at these verses, another thought came to me. There are plenty of people who may not hang out with angry friends, but they are surrounded by angry voices. The internet and media are filled with anger. It seems as if anger is one of the key elements that is used to capture attention. There are so many angry people on the right and left. And many in Christian circles that are furious about the state of things in America. The problem is that the scriptures are clear on the subject of anger and wrath. Here are three verses. “You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.” Colossians 3:7-8 NLT. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT. “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” James 1:19-20 NLT
I used to work with a group of Christian men before we started the church. They were angry about the state of things in America, and this was in the 90s. I started listening to some of the radio voices that were railing against the state of things in our country. Although some of the points were valid, the way things were communicated was anger and outrage. I found myself getting mad. I was learning the ways of the angry people. So I stopped listening, and the anger died down.
I do notice that when I spend time in God’s Word, I am not angry. His Word brings peace and a sense of strength. His Word nourishes my soul and helps me avoid the snares that would weaken me or cause anguish. Our good Shepherd restores our souls. For my inner man, I want to stay nourished, not furious. Strong, not stressed. Peaceful, not perturbed. So I monitor the voices and associations in my life.
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, for leading me to still waters. Thank You for restoring my soul. Reveal to me if I have allowed angry voices too much space.