Humor has always been a gray area for most people. Things that some people find funny, others see as offensive. I have heard several people say that God has to have a sense of humor, though usually it is followed with “after all, He made me.” The question seems to be, does God really appreciate a sense of humor?
T he Bible tells us that God created Man in his own image, but aren’t image and emotion two different things? Now the word humor doesn’t show up in my exhaustive Concordance. Under laughter (and its variations), you can find laughter for joy and happiness, as in this from Genesis 21:6 ;Now Sarah said, “God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.“
T his is after she has given birth to her only child, Isaac, in her old age. But laughter can be something negative too. You can find this in Psalms 2:4;He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision.
Here it is talking about the kings of the earth aligning themselves against the Lord. So there are positive and negatives to laughter. It does show though that God know laughter. Why then is humor so very hurtful to people sometimes? Most of the time it is a matter of experiences and your own understanding of a language that decides if you are going to find something funny or not.
B ut is humor a good thing? That can be debatable, and we even find things in the scripture that could make somebody wonder. Take Ecclesiastes 7: 3-6;Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of fools; this also is vanity.
Is humor and laughter really vanity? It can be. Surely, we have all seen times that were the result of somebody just trying to lift there own ego. They torment the people around them and insult them without concern for their personal feelings. Does this verse tell us we should be sorrowful all the time? There are too many other places that tell us of being in the “joy of the Lord” to believe that this was meant in such drastic terms. I think it is just reminding us that we learn and grow from our mistakes, trials, and sorrows.
W hat about Jesus? Even Jesus seems to encourage solemn, sorrowful emotions in Luke 6: 20-25;Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh…".
then verse 24 continues:
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep..”
One interpretation of this is to remind us that material things do not last. We are supposed to take comfort in knowing that our reward is in heaven, and we will not always find this world difficult, and many will mock and scorn us for our faith and beliefs. The scripture is telling us that the time will come, when they will have no rewards, and our suffering will not have been in vain, for we shall be rewarded in heaven. I believe that, in these cases, the laughter to which the scripture is referring, is the laughter of derision and meanness, not the laughter of true joy and happiness. Many scriptures remind us to share our joy in the Lord. Laughter is like anything else in this world, it can be used to help and heal, or it can be used to hurt, and try to bring somebody down. We should always try to be aware of the effect it will have before we use it.
God’s Blessings and Joy on your days!
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Comments: 39
Thank you so much for your comments
I have to have a sense of humor to get through all the hardness of the day....
I always use it as a detereant from what I really feel, so others don't feel sorow for me....
*10*
Had to. Humor & Love go hand in hand.
God Bless!
Christine - I agree that humor can keep us happy, as long as we are aware of what affect it would have on those around us... I can laugh about myself on many things, but some are just too painful to me...
Robert - I think you can show love and humor at the same time. You should know, I pick on you enough..LOL It is just hard to judge sometimes when that line is crossed between funny and hurtful. Thanks for your comments.
Michelle - I will look forward to your article!!
Jane - I am a firm believer in the power of prayer and a smile
John - I haven't considered it such either, but I have been the victim of those who do, especially in the size department.. Thank you for your comment!
Good thoughts...
Amy- The book does sound interesting. I did see the Gospel of John and I love it. Thanks for the advice, and comment.
To laugh at the misfortune of others is the bad application of laughter. Humour that is based on putting people down is the bad application of humour.
But even in tragedy there is humour. I've spoken with fuineral directors on this subject before and they tell me that the grieving almost always laugh at some point during the funeral (exception being the funeral of a child).
I think that humour is the human response to the absurdity of life, and the fact that we have the ability to think abstractly and see the humourous side of things.
It is often said: You've gotta laugh or cry.
Sure, there is a time for both, but to laugh is good for us and that is what God wants for us, good.
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.
Thanks for the comments! LOL
Reena - I couldn't agree more! Thanks for coming by!
Jerry - Nothing is wrong with clean fun, as long as that is what it is. Thanks!
Marge - LOL I can see that! Bad Llama, Bad Llama....Thanks!
When you look at some of the animals, like the zebra with its stripes I think God has a sense of humor and whimsy. He also is a powerful artist in the sunrises and sunsets!
And, oh, I adore the Bible verse about there being a time for mouring and a time for dancing, which goes to laughter (I think). I believe anything in excess is not good for us. That seems to be where the real danger lies.
Thank you for nice reading!
PAY IT FORWARD
Kieran - That verse is found in matthew, mark and Luke.
Here is the version from Matthew 19:23-24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you , it will be hard for a rich
person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to
enter the kingdom of God."
I agree with the season verse too. It is one of my favorites too.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck
what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and
a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and
a time to dance; 5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones
together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to
seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 7 a time to
tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time
to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
Thanks for your comments!
Blessings to all...
My favorite pictures are by a phenomenal artist named Jean Keaton - they show Jesus laughing with children, Check them out at: www.keatonprints.com - they will make you smile and maybe even laugh!!!!
I am disabled and I say God had a sense of humor when he brought me into this world then immediately allowed me to have a stroke and mumps. It comforts me that I can smile with Him and allow His work to come forth from me. Laughter is the soul's music and the heavens rejoice. The sky become bluer, the Angels and Saints smile and their songs become more glorious.
Jesus did laugh and often taught his Apostles through humor.
And, remember the Bible also says: Do Not Judge, lest Ye be judged in the same vein when Ye stand before me.