“An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.” (Proverbs 29:22)
Here’s another problem with anger: When we’re angry, we’re less likely to want other people to be happy. An anger problem is never a personal problem. It’s a problem for everyone in the angry fellow’s circle of influence.
Today’s proverb says that when you’ve got a good rage going, you go into seek-and-destroy mode. Every person you talk to or talk about is on the menu for yelling at, dismissing, mocking, or worse. You “stir up dissension” by bringing up anything that might make for a good fight between you or others.
Conflict might be one reason people get angry, but angry people also love conflict. It’s a never-ending cycle: “I’m angry; let’s have a conflict.” “Oh, this is a conflict; now I’m angry.”
We’ve got to find the anger emergency brake to stop that vicious cycle before it destroys friendships, months, reputations. More on how to bail out of anger in the next few days.
Think: Have you ever seen a relationship ended over one person’s anger? Have you seen angry people break up whole groups? How can an angry person break out of the cycle of conflict and rage?
Pray: Ask God to help you not to be an angry person and to know how to break out of anger when you feel it starting to take over.
Do: Make a quick list of a few people in your life who are known for being “angry people.” Notice how that has impacted their relationships.