Devotionals

The Use and Abuse of Humour

by Jennifer Woodley 
01/10/24
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Ephesians 5:4 “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place,”

Few things are as useful in the Christian life as knowing when to laugh and when to mourn. There is a time for each and the wise Christian doesn't confuse the two. Paul is careful to warn us that our characteristic mood should not be one of course jesting and foolish laughter but instead, one of gentle humour, and a sorrowful state towards sin.

Obviously an appreciation of the humorous is not an evil in itself. Proverbs 17:22 says that 'a joyful heart is good medicine.' When God made us, He built in the capacity to laugh at ourselves and the incongruity of life. But in submitting to God we learn to laugh appropriately. May we not be found laughing at sin or death or the tragedies of humankind. There is nothing funny about souls spending eternity without Christ, the loss of human life in wartime or the millions who perish without hearing the gospel.

It is best to laugh about the right things at the right time and to show godly sorrow at the right time over sin. Only when we learn to cry about our sin are we able to laugh over our freedom in Christ. May our deep cheerfulness of heart be found in the joy we have in knowing Jesus and let it be His standard that shapes both our laughter and our sorrow.

'Father, Forgive me for when I have engaged in superficial laughter over the sin that surrounds me. You never take sin lightly, but command that our behaviour be holy in the face of it. Help me to honour you by laughing at the right time for the right reasons only.'