Honest Laughter

(Pro 26:19 KJV) So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

A recent clip being shown on the internet involved Joe Biden speaking to the troops and calling them “stupid bastards”.  The short clip was supposed to show that Biden had no respect for the troops.  The Biden campaign said he was joking.  Although I am not a supporter of Biden, after watching the clip I have to agree with his campaign.  He was obviously doing a bit of locker language in order to connect with his audience.  I don’t think any of the uniformed personnel in the audience thought it was anything but funny.  

The ones who should be apologizing are the people who clipped the video.  They cut off his next words and the response of the soldiers and marines.  I am guessing they laughed and clapped.  We need to be careful in the use of humor and how we interpret it.  We need to be careful in how we respond.  I know that I found that with certain people I try to turn off my sense of humor completely.

So?  Laughter is wonderful but not at the cost of integrity and truth.

Truth Practice

(Pro 25:18 KJV) A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

We are in a political season.  I recently received a hit piece in the mail attacking the man I am planning on voting for on November 3.  I know enough about the man and had read the letter written by his opponent to know that it was based on misrepresentation at best and outright lies at worst.  There were two items he was being accused of.  In an effort to look like they had done real research they included dates after the accusation.  The only problem is that the first accusation was a few months after he took office and the other was over a year before he was sworn in.  

As Christians I believe we are to be involved in the political process.  We are to do so in a Christian way.  That means we must present truth, not lies.  It means we must focus on issues rather than making ad hominem attacks.  It means we work hard but always to a higher standard.  

So?  We should be able to have an intelligent discussion without anger and hostility.  Look at it as practice for your chances to give a defense of the hope that is in you (I Peter 3:15). 

Enjoy

(Pro 24:13 KJV) My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

The glutton in me loves this verse.  The diabetic hates it.  Like so many things that you read in the Bible, if you take them in isolation and read nothing else they give the wrong impression.  We are to enjoy the good things.  We are not to let the good things consume us.  It is called moderation and timing.  I often complain about how social occasions make it hard for me to control my weight.  It is a smoke screen.  What puts on the pounds are the extras that I add to the meal and the calories I consume when I get off by myself.  No one grabs my hand and forces the food into my mouth.

So?  Moderation is a spiritual quality.  Moderation is hard.  It is a day by day and often minute by minute struggle for me.  I hope you are different. 

Not Nap Time

(Pro 23:21 KJV) For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

“Drowsiness” (5124) strikes home on me lately.  I always seem ready to fall asleep.  The root word of this term has to do with sleep and it literally means sleeping but the figurative implication is being lazy.  It is one of those chicken-and-egg questions about which comes first.  Are drunks inclined to laziness or are sluggards more open to drinking.  The danger being mentioned here is poverty.

This theme is not confined to the Bible.  One of the books I read during the virus lockdown was obtained from Project Gutenberg and titled “Thrift”.  It was published in the 19th century and one of the points he makes repeatedly is the role of alcohol in keeping the working classes poor.  The man who stopped to have a few pints on the way home continued to live in poverty.  The man who went straight home and started a savings account often ended up buying cottages to rent out to others.

So?  Walking with Jesus reaches into how we spend out money.  Pay attention.  It will make a difference in the long run. 

HR Awards

(Pro 22:29 KJV) Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

This verse gives me a good reason not to want to be the best.  I don’t want to “stand” (3320) before kings.  On the few times I have received awards I tend to be irritated.  Part of the irritation is based on how meaningless most awards are.  Take the Academy Awards.  If I read the headlines and comments correctly a movie now needs to meet a long list of affirmative action quotas to even be considered.  It would seem to me that this would automatically make the award meaningless as a recognition of film excellence.  It should be redefined as an award given to the HR department for meeting the quotas with people who can read a script.  I remember the Student of the Month awards we used to give.  It started out with each teacher picking one student and ended up with teachers calling up entire classes.

In spite of that God still wants me to give Him my best.  I can also live with that.  He does not give out false awards.

So?  I will take the Daily Gave-It-His-Best award. 

Lockdown Literature

(Pro 21:29 KJV) A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

Where do you want to put your energy?  Do you want to spend it researching ways to look good or would you prefer to spending it actually getting better?  It seems like a rhetorical question but it is something we should be thinking about.  There are a lot of ways I can invest my time.  Some are fun.  Some are nothing but work.  Some are drudgery.  Some are rewarding.  Should I read the latest best selling novel?  Actually I wonder if I should spend any time on current cultural focal points.  Have you ever gone to the library and investigated the new books they are investing in?  It seems like a competition to waste time.

Have you read any of the classics?  Now would be a good time before they are edited to reflect modern morals.  How about Christian classics, and I don’t mean Max or Stormy.  

So?  If you don’t lift weights your don’t get stronger.  If you don’t get enough vitamin C you get scurvy.  If you don’t read the map you won’t know where your are.  The virus lockdown has been potentially a great time to grow. 

Eventually

 Pro 20:5 KJV) Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

There is a bit of a promise here.  It isn’t just that there is a solution to what faces you but that you can find that solution.  The thing we don’t like is that it takes some effort to “draw” (1802a) it out.  Sometimes we act like it isn’t obvious when it is.  You may have seen the meme poster that has a lady saying, “If he already has a wife, God did not bring him to you.”  Other times it might be a bit difficult.  That is the bad news.  The good news is that we can find the answer.

So?  Keep praying, reading, meditating, asking and listening.  Give it the time it needs.