Caustic Companions

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person;do not associate with one easily angered,or you may learn their waysand get yourself ensnared.

Proverbs 22:24-25 (NIV)

Friendship, for us as women, is a wonderful and important thing. But as this proverb warns us, we need to be careful and wise about whom we buddy up with.

First Corinthians 15:33 tells us, “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits” (NKJV).

In a godly friendship we can be iron sharpening iron. We can encourage each other, pray for each other, and best of all, fellowship, serve, and pray with each other. But as women get close, we sometimes let our guards down and allow ourselves to share the worst of what we’re thinking and the worst of our attitudes. When we do this, there are sparks, but not for good. We ignite the worst in others and invite them to share the negative and destructive with us.

A woman who is angry with her husband often allows herself to tear him down and reveal his flaws, especially to her close friends. There are some women who are always angry with somebody—their mothers or friends or coworkers. Some are angry with others in the church, with leaders, or with their pastors. That anger is expressed in a constant flow of criticism. Let’s not do that. And let’s not be that kind of influence to our friends. And let’s choose our friendships carefully so we don’t unconsciously adopt habits that are ugly and hard to break.

As our proverb today says, “Do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Okay, now that we have said “distance yourself” from your angry friend, does that mean you should write her off? No. I’d venture to say she has some hurts in her past that have triggered her caustic attitude. Did she grow up with an alcoholic father? Was she abused as a child? Does she have rejection or abandonment in her past? These factors are not excuses. But they are reasons for you to be sympathetic and prayerful. It could be that her past is controlling her present. Will you partner with God to love her and pray for a breakthrough that only God can give?

One Year Bible Reading

Song of Songs 5:1–8:14; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 22:24-25