TLIC Family. PROVERBS. OCTOBER 16: JOKING.

THINK TOGETHER.

Have you heard any good jokes today?

READ TOGETHER

Proverbs 26:18-19. ¹⁸Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death ¹⁹is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”

This literally happened to me yesterday. My wife and I went to a little café together for breakfast. After thinking for a while I finally said, “I’ll have the Ham Scram Jam Sam (the name of the breakfast sandwich that I wanted). The man behind the counter looked at me and said, “We’re all out of Ham Scram Jam Sam.” “Oh no,” I cried. Then the man said, “I’m only joking, we have the Ham Scram Jam Sam.” Now I’m not saying that this café worker was like a mad man who throws firebrands, arrows, and death. But it was pretty annoying.

If we are going to be wise, we have to be careful with how we speak to others. We need to make sure that what we think is funny is actually funny. Humor at another person’s expense is not funny. Telling lies then trying to cover them up by saying I’m only joking doesn’t change the fact that it was a lie that you told. 

Sometimes we think that if we add I’m only joking to what we say then we can say anything. But the truth is that what you said still hurts, even if you really were only joking. Other’s don’t care or remember that you said only joking. The mean or untrue thing you said is what they will remember.

Do you do this? Do you ever say mean or untrue things and then add only joking on the end to cover up and stay out of trouble? Or has “we were only joking” been your excuse when you’ve hurt someone’s feelings and then got in trouble for it?

With Jesus we don’t have to lie or make fun of others. Usually when we do that it is because we want to feel better about ourselves or fit in with others. With Jesus you don’t have to make yourself look better or feel better, especially by putting others down. You can simply trust that he loves and likes you no matter what. Then you can tell funny jokes that don’t hurt feelings.

Because of Jesus we are always loved, liked, and accepted.

With Jesus we can tell the truth and tell jokes that don’t hurt feelings.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Share jokes that don’t lie or hurt feelings. Who can get the biggest laugh?

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, help me to be careful with my joking. Let my jokes reflect your love of everyone. Amen.