Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,[1] do not associate with one easily angered,[2] or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.[3]
Proverbs 22.24-25
Angry people stir up strife and those who become angry cause much transgression (Proverbs 29.22). Man’s anger doesn’t lead to a godly life (James 1.20). Harsh words stir up anger (Proverbs 15.1) and often produces strife (Proverbs 30.33). The hope of the wicked ends in wrath (Proverbs 11.23) and riches do not profit in the day of wrath (Proverbs 11.4).
Anger is an often illustrated, referenced and discussed emotion in the Bible. For example, God has anger (Psalms 7.11, Isaiah 30.27) and is described as being One who is slow to anger (Exodus 34.6, Numbers 14.18, Psalm 86.15). In addition, through our sin, we can provoke God to anger (Deuteronomy 31.29, 9.22, Judges 2.12, 2 Kings 21.15, Psalms 106.29). In the Bible, people get angry with each other (Genesis 27.41, 30.2) and with God (2 Kings 19.27-28, Proverbs 19.3).
In business, anger is a debilitating emotion, even though some think it leads to creativity and increased productivity.[4] The opposite is often true: anger blots out reason and blurs good judgment,[5] which contributes to decreased productivity and morale.
Employees are more likely to engage in unethical behavior when they are angry.[6] Those on the receiving end of anger can carry grudges against the one who became angry. Often, anger harms the professional reputation of the one who loses his temper and can create a reputation for making errors in judgment in the heat of the moment. People will be less likely to want to work with or for an angry person and may avoid contact with such a person altogether.[7]
What the Bible teaches is that an angry lifestyle can be learned. Once learned, anger ensnares[8] you. Once ensnared, you’ll find yourself becoming more and more angry at less and less important things. Over time, your appetite for anger will become insatiable. Your anger may give you short-term results, but the long-term consequences will be irreparable. In addition, your other management skills will atrophy and over time, you’ll have only one management technique: anger.
Many successful people are also angry people.[9] In spite of their success, I will submit that they could have been even more successful had they not used anger to achieve success. When you see an angry person who is successful, you’re looking at one who could have been more successful had they not been held back by their anger. This includes pastors and Christian ministry leaders whom I have personally known who were gifted communicators in the pulpit and excellent leaders but could be as mean as a junk yard dog behind closed doors.
Anger is often abusive. In business, anger is usually expressed when there is an imbalance of power in the relationship. The one who wields a higher authority or power is the one who uses anger to manipulate, control, demean or simply demonstrate superiority. Some use anger intentionally to attack others to to motivate subordinates. Nearly always, words which offend, would and/or insult are part of the verbal diatribe. When we’re angry, we do and say things that diminish and discount the thoughts, actions and personhood of others.
Anger can also be expressed through cynicism, sarcasm or quiet withdrawal. Anger need not be overt in order to be present and debilitating.
Christian business owners are not to be characterized by anger nor should we befriend or develop close relations with those who are prone to anger or fury. If we do, we will learn their ways and damage our witness for Christ. This instruction applies to our hiring practices, vendor and partner management and customer acquisition. Stay away from angry people in business or those prone to being quick-tempered or hot-headed. This instruction applies even more to ministry leaders, such as pastors and college presidents, who presumably should be able to have their anger submitted to the healing touch of Christ.
[1] אַל־תִּ֭תְרַע אֶת־בַּ֣עַל אָ֑ף literally, do not befriend an owner of anger (LEB). The ESV and NASB translates בַּ֣עַל (ba’al) as man. NIV, person. I like “owner” better. בַּ֫עַל is most often translated owner, husband. Also, citizens. The word is often transliterated as Baal (Judges 2.11, 2.13, 1 Samuel 7.4, 1 Kings 16.31). Of the 154 uses of this word, 74 are transliterations. So when we see the Israelites submitting to a Baal, like Ba’al-Peor (Numbers 25.3) we’re not just seeing them foolishly worship an idol, we’re witnessing their tradeoff of ownership: they’re submitting to the ownership of false gods and rejecting the ownership of the true God. To translate this word as man or person deemphasizes the ownership and control an angry person has over their anger. The word for anger is אָ֑ף, nose, face, nostrils, anger, from the word אנף, to be angry with. The shortened form of this word is used in Genesis 2.7, “…breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” Genesis 27.45, “when your brother is no longer angry with you…”. Moses left Pharaoh hot with anger (Exodus 11.8) and when Achan sinned through stealing in Joshua 7.1, the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. The idea is that one becomes so heated, so angry, that one’s nostrils visibly flair.
[2] חֵ֝מֹות from חֵמָה, fury, intense anger. Genesis 27.44, “stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides”. Leviticus 26.28, “…then in my anger I will be hostile toward you.” Deuteronomy 29.27, “in furious anger and in great wrath the Lord uprooted them…”. This word has a similar degree of intensity to אָ֑ף.
[3] NIV Proverbs 22:24–25
[4] The Right Way to Get Angry. Todd Kashdan and Robert Biswas-Diener, October 20, 2014. Greatergood.berkeley.edu. These authors also wrote the book The Upside of Your Darkside, 2014, Hudson Street Press.
[5] Workplace Anger. Inc., Inc..com
[6] Attention, bosses: Why angry employees are bad for business. Alexis Blue. November 14, 2016. Sciencedaily.com
[7] The Cost of Anger in the Workplace, Florence Lewis, November 9, 2017. Jobcluster.com.
[8] מוֹקֵשׁ from יקשׁ, something that catches a person unawares, bait, lure, to be caught. This was the word used when Pharaoh’s officials ask him, “how long will this man be a snare to us?”. This is also the warning Moses gave to the Israelites about allowing those who believe in other gods to live with them: “Do not let them live in your land or they will cause yeou to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you.”
[9] Get Angry! Be Passionate! Your ‘Emotions are Vital to Success. Thomas Edwards, Jr., February 24, 2014, entrepreneur.com.
