Together in Christ: 'Don't Cause Flares!' — Proverbs 15:1

I love the simple, straightforward truth God gives us in the biblical collection of Proverbs. Today's relationship verse from Proverbs is concise and clear. If we add harsh words in response to someone who is angry and hostile with us, we add fuel to anger's fire. As we keep adding such fuel, the fire will eventually burn up our relationship — whether it is friendship, marriage, fellowship, or something else. A gentle answer calms the fire, reduces the heat, and deescalates the emotion. A similar proverb says it this way:

Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood. ^[1]

Jesus' half-brother, James, says it this way:

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. ^[2]

God expects us to be the redeeming influence in every relationship and every personal encounter. He wants us to demonstrate the righteous character, gracious compassion, and unfailing love that Jesus did. So, I hope you will join me in trying to hit the pause button, listen, pray, and think, and — as followers of Jesus — respond with respect and integrity in angry and hostile situations, not as a hothead responding to a hothead with words and actions that burn down the relationships involved.