Day 278.
Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:4 ESV)
It is easy to get caught up in this kind of conversation. This is what we often consider humor. Comedians flourish on this kind of speech. Does God want us to refrain from it because he doesn’t like us having fun? Of course not. This kind of speech does typically one of two things. Either it is crass and tears down whet God has created or it appeals to our sinful natures’ desires to make God’s gifts into idols, that is, to abuse them by using them out of their intended context. They subtly appeal to the thrill of the forbidden, just as Augustine pointed out that stolen fruit tastes sweeter in the moment.
Instead we are to give thanks for gifts God gives us to enjoy in life and see them as such. After all, God is the great gift-giver!
Do you ever joke around in crude ways with others? Why do you think it seems so fun?
Give thanks to God for the good things he has given and ask God to help you find out what pleases Him.
McCheyne’s Bible Reading Plan: 1 Kings 8, Eph 5, Ez 38, Ps 28-29
Yes I do. But I don’t know why it seems funny. I thank GOD that he forgave me!
That was actualy mine.
Yes, I do and I think it feel good cause we hold a gruge.
Yes sometimes I still do. I don’t know why it’s funny because it’s just offending people and God.
One time I said some things bad about my brothers and then I said I was just joking. Saying I’m just joking doesn’t make it okay.
Yes I do. I don’t really know how it seems so fun. I guess when I joke around with my friends it just seems cool.