Proverbs 29:22

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about anger:

Proverbs 29:22 (NASBStr)

An angry man stirs up strife,

And a hot- tempered man abounds in transgression.

Proverbs 29:22 (ESV)

A man of wrath stirs up strife,

and one given to anger causes much transgression.

This proverb is similar to:

Proverbs 15:18 (NASBStr)

A hot- tempered man stirs up strife,

But the slow to anger calms a dispute.

When you think of the outcome of a hot-tempered man, you can see the results are not good for him any more than the person he is in anger with.   When you stir up strife you are as equally damaged by such conflict.   Stirring up strife, or engaging in strife is destructive to all parties, not just the person you are angry with.   When our temper is hot it produces more sin than just the initial anger.   That is the point of the second line, above.   Wrong anger is not only sin it opens the door to more sin.  When you think of the proverb that a soft answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1) you see that the soft answer stops sin from taking place.  But anger stirs up more strife opens the flood-gates of sin.   Solomon is not bashful to let us know the consequences of sin and the fallout of rejecting the fear of The Lord.   God has set the stage that what you sow you also reap.   So, when you sow anger it reaps more strife.   You can't avoid it.   Hot-tempered people create more anger in others and bring frustration and confusion to many.   But a person who does not lose his/her temper can calm the situation and allow others to find God's grace.   If you have too much strife in your life quit stirring it up with your own anger.