Proverbs 22:24 

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man.

I have never seen a child who could get so angry so fast. If Raphael felt slighted in the least, his body would stiffen, his nostrils would flare, his eyes would glaze over, and in a matter of seconds, somebody was going to be at the wrong end of his fist. Only a couple of days after school started, in my first year of teaching, I returned to the classroom to find Raphael going after another classmate for some words exchanged during lunch. When Raphael went into his “anger mode,” it was next to impossible to talk him down. Raphael, and all those who hung around him, had reserved seats in the principal’s office.

Today’s passage needs little commentary. A person who is easily angered will hurt you. Maybe physically, maybe emotionally, but they will bring pain into your life. If you escape being the recipient of their wrath, you may get caught up in the emotional frenzy and participate in their rampage against someone else. 

Scripture is profound. It describes the eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God who sent his Son as a substitutionary atonement for our sin, imputes our sin on him, and imputes his righteousness on us. And Scripture is profoundly practical. When you see a hot-tempered person, for goodness sakes, keep your distance from them whatever you do.

Father, thank you for the practical advice you give. Help us to obey your instruction. Give us discernment in relationships for our sake and yours. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.