I recently heard a story that truly impacted me. I believe hearing this story changed my life. No it wasn’t from the bible it was from a real life situation. A situation that many of us have, but don’t handle—at least we do not handle well.
There was this funny guy who was always telling jokes. He was funny and the jokes were always funny, but they were at the expense of another person—always the same person. Eventually the guy who was the brunt of the jokes decided to do something. On the occasion of the next joke he asks the joker a question. “Are we friends?” The joker responded, “Yes, we’re friends.” To which the other asked yet another question. “Is this how friends treat one another?” This same scenario happened a few more times. One day however the joker simply replied after being asked the very same questions for the third time, “I got it”. The joker didn’t quit telling jokes but he did quit making his friend the brunt of his jokes, he “got it”.
Friends don’t treat friends unkindly even in jest. In fact the Bible tells us we are kings and priest.
Revelation 5:10 (NKJV) “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
The Bible also tells us that we being kings shouldn’t joke.
Ephesians 5:4 (KJV) “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”
More is caught than taught and if we are to be a kinder nation we need to begin to be more kind to those closest to us…our family and our friends. This week I challenge you to guard yourself. When you begin to treat others in an unfavorable light even in a kidding manner, stop. Ask yourself, “Are we friends?” “Is this how friends treat friends?” If not choose rather to do as Ephesians 5”4 says, “…give thanks.”
There was this funny guy who was always telling jokes. He was funny and the jokes were always funny, but they were at the expense of another person—always the same person. Eventually the guy who was the brunt of the jokes decided to do something. On the occasion of the next joke he asks the joker a question. “Are we friends?” The joker responded, “Yes, we’re friends.” To which the other asked yet another question. “Is this how friends treat one another?” This same scenario happened a few more times. One day however the joker simply replied after being asked the very same questions for the third time, “I got it”. The joker didn’t quit telling jokes but he did quit making his friend the brunt of his jokes, he “got it”.
Friends don’t treat friends unkindly even in jest. In fact the Bible tells us we are kings and priest.
Revelation 5:10 (NKJV) “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
The Bible also tells us that we being kings shouldn’t joke.
Ephesians 5:4 (KJV) “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”
More is caught than taught and if we are to be a kinder nation we need to begin to be more kind to those closest to us…our family and our friends. This week I challenge you to guard yourself. When you begin to treat others in an unfavorable light even in a kidding manner, stop. Ask yourself, “Are we friends?” “Is this how friends treat friends?” If not choose rather to do as Ephesians 5”4 says, “…give thanks.”
RSS Feed