I WAS ONLY JOKING (2)

WISDOM FOR TODAY.

"I WAS ONLY JOKING" (2)

Scripture Treasure.

Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Insight and Highlights.

It is better never to joke than to say sorry 'I was only joking."

Scripture Commentaries.

Paul, in admonishing the Ephesians, brought jokes into further discussion.

In his words in Eph 5:4, he warns us.

Paul categorized it amongst filthiness and foolish talking. He used the word 'jesting' (KJV) , coarse joking (NIV, NLT), obscene, or vulgar joking (Amplified), and coarse jesting in (NKJV).

Looking closely at this passage, Paul is not saying Christians should not joke or entertain jokes, but he is referring, among other things, to filthiness and foolish talking, jokes "....which are not convenient,....". In other words, jokes that are not befitting and which are out of place.

By Paul's writing, we must draw a line between jokes that are spirit lifting, edifying, and jokes that are raw,

sensual, derogatory, heretic, insulting, and capable of causing death.

Rather than such jokes making God happy, they will cause God to laugh in derision and mockery (ref Ps 2:4, 37:13).

Looking at the preceeding verse in Eph 5:3, Paul writes about such jokes in the same breath as ".....fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness,....."

He further writes in the latter part of the verse, saying, "......let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;....

So both Eph 5:3-4 should be read together for us to grasp the seriois and grave consequences of jokes that are "...not convenient..", jokes that are out of character and out of place.

From Paul's writing, we can deduce that for him to write that there are jokes that are out of place, there are jokes that can be in order or in place.

This tells us that jokes are not forbidden for Christians. There is a place for jokes. The exception is when they are not convinenient or completely out of order.

Again, you do not have to joke.

Do not toy or play with people's emotions.

Do not toy or play with God's emotions.

Remorse corner.

Jokes that are improper, toy on people's emotions.

Call to Word action.

If jokes are improper, "....let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;..."

The Christian clarion duty.

A good Christian will not play on God's emotions.

Prayer.

Lord, do not let me play with people's and God's emotions by jokes that are out of place in Jesus name.

Good morning, all, and be blessed as you come into His presence.

God bless you.