By Robert Hitchman
A MERRY HEART DOETH GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE
PROVERBS 17:22
One of the ways to avoid getting offended is to have a good sense of humor. Too many people (including Christians) think to serve God means you can’t laugh, you can’t have any fun, etc. Nothing can be further from the truth. When I first got saved, I was talking to a college teammate of mine who got saved shortly before I did. Although I was a little older than him, we came from similar backgrounds. He was very funny, but I believe he got saved in a very strict, religious church. I think that had a profound effect on his new world view, even though it’s now Christian. I told him this new life was challenging. Then half-jokingly I said, “I’m glad a sense of humor isn’t a sin.” He told me to turn to Ephesians 5, verses 3 and 4. “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” He said that jesting in the fourth verse meant joking, or in other words, a sense of humor. So according to him I needed to get rid of my sense of humor.
STUDY AND RIGHTLY DIVIDE
Well, I know he meant well, but upon further study I quickly realized his error. The word jesting in the fourth verse is the Greek word eutrapelia. It does means jesting but in a bad sense. It’s really referring to dirty jokes, sexual innuendos, double talk, sarcasm and such like.
We really need to be able to laugh, especially at ourselves at times. I believe this scripture is telling us, not so much to lose our sense of humor, but to clean it up. It’s the dirty, profane, and outright foolishness we need to get rid of. Christian comedian Michael Jr. half-jokingly said that in the church he grew up in, it was illegal to laugh. After he came to the Lord as an adult, he got this revelation: “What good father doesn’t want to hear his children laughing in their home.” He was speaking of God the Father, of course, but it can also be applied to our earthly fathers and familes. There’s a lot of truth in that statement.
Now I’m not saying that we need to be joking all the time, never taking anything seriously. I’m saying some of us need to lighten up and learn to discern what’s important and what’s not. I’ve noticed the best ministers, pastors, teachers, (those who joke a lot and those who don’t) don’t take themselves seriously. They just take their calling and ministry seriously. But even when going through some rough times, I’ve heard in many of their testimonies, one of the ways they get through it is to exercise their faith by laughing at the situation. The Bible does say in Job 5:22 “At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh:” The reason I believe it’s telling us to laugh is because laughter can be an expression of joy. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Joy is also one of the fruits of the spirit. By allowing yourself to laugh, you’re demonstrating your strength. You’re also expressing your faith in your God’s ability to get you not only through the situation but overcome it.
MARRIAGE IS CHALLENGING: SENSE OF HUMOR REQUIRED
Marriage can be challenging. You can’t allow yourself to be easily offended by everyday life or little jokes. You need to have some kind of sense of humor or you won’t last. Again, you don’t have to be joking all the time. But just being able to laugh, even a little bit, can help you to get through some of the rough spots.
When I first got married my wife told me why she knew she could trust me. She said the reason was, besides the fact that I’m a godly man, most men who cheat on their wives are good-looking and have a great personality. She says I’m just good-looking. To which I responded, “Thank,,, you, I think? WAIT, WHAT!?” as I walked away scratching my head. You see my wife was only joking and of course I knew that. But if I had taken offense to that remark, it could’ve caused problems down the road. She’d probably think she’d have to be walking on eggshells. And that’s not a good situation to be in, especially in a marriage. The Bible says, “A merry heart has done good like a medicine.” Proverbs 17:22 I believe that’s part of the reason we’ve been married for over 25 years.
A sense of humor will also help you avoid getting offended in the workplace. You will probably have many opportunities to get offended or find things offensive from your boss, coworkers, venders or customers. That’s where having a sense of humor can help you get through the workday without getting offended.
Being a Christian, the enemy will try to throw things at you to get you offended, especially in the workplace. I found a simple principle that works for me. It’s something your mother probably told you when the other kids were picking on you in school. “If you just laugh at them, they will leave you alone.” I know it sounds simple, but it works for me. It seems like it’s a form of turning the other cheek. You pray about it and go as the Lord leads you.
BALANCE IS THE KEY TO LIFE
Let me be clear. I’m not saying you have to become the church clown or the office comedian. But I also want to say that if you’re already that, you don’t have to stop that. Just be the person God intended for you to be. Some of us joke a lot and some of us don’t. Just make sure your sense of humor is clean and not off color. Don’t try to push the envelope to see how close to telling dirty jokes you can get away with without stepping into sin. Balance is the key to life. Take your relationship to God and your responsibilities to your family, your church and your job seriously. However, don’t take yourself too seriously. Just be able to laugh and enjoy life as you serve God, wherever He places you. Selah.