A Sense of Humor

by Doy Moyer

A sense of humor is a gift from God. Some take themselves and others far too seriously, so much that they cannot laugh at themselves or enjoy a good chuckle at life’s awkward moments. There is a “time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes 3:4), and “A joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). Tensions can be eased, spirits lifted, and moments of pain alleviated through a good laugh. While no one likes to be “laughed at,” we cannot take ourselves so seriously that we fail to see any humor.

On the flip side are those with little to no sense of the serious. Too much laughter can indeed be madness (Ecclesiastes 2:2), and those who cannot stop joking about everything are foolish (Proverbs 29:9; Ecclesiastes 7:5-6). When the time has come to be serious, we need to be able to refrain from the jokes.

Once again, balance is a key factor in how we approach life. Enjoy a good laugh, but also take serious things seriously.

I believe the Lord had a sense of humor. If you don’t think so, picture that big log hanging out of your eye while trying to pick a speck of dust from another’s. Humor can teach us important lessons.