Angry

 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,
Proverbs 22:24 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.22.24.ESV

The very next verse gives the reason why we shouldn't befriend bad tempered people. We learn from those we hang out with, and rage ensnared those who are caught up with it. As another saying goes, 'show me your friends and I'll show you your future'.

We tend to become like those we spend time with. If we are friends with grumpy people, we're likely to become grumpy. If on the other hand we befriend joyful people, we're likely to become joyful.

It is true that if we befriend people who push us to succeed, we're more likely to do so. Having said that, we shouldn't just befriend people as a means to the end of success. We should appreciate good friends for their own sakes.

If we're related to an angry man, or live next door to one, or work with one, we can scarcely avoid them. We can still choose to keep them at arm's distance though, to refuse to befriend them. We need to resolve not to pick up their bad habits.

'O Lord God, may we choose our friends wisely, and so may we thrive. Help us to value good friends for their own sake, not as a means to an end. In Jesus' name, amen'

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