January 30, 2001
Doesn’t a chuckle make you feel good? Over the holidays, we laughed for hours at a time playing games and enjoying family. Everyone said how good it felt to laugh. In fact, an American research team recently “discovered” that laughter may be the best medicine. Apparently, laughing releases natural chemicals into the bloodstream that can prevent heart disease.
We knew that, at least instinctively. We didn’t know about the chemicals or the heart disease, but we knew that “laughter is the best medicine.” Or does that sound like folk lore or a cliché? Maybe we needed to have a scientific “discovery” to help us. It’s funny, but the people of God have known it for centuries.
About a thousand years BC, King Solomon wrote the following proverb, “A cheerful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22). He also noted that “a heart at peace gives life to the body” and “a happy heart makes the face cheerful.”
While this seems like common sense, God did inspire Solomon to write this. What comes from the mind of God is not the same as “folk lore” and should not be considered outside the field of science or opposed to it. It is more like the “wisdom of the ages.”
As Creator, God knows more about people than we know about ourselves. He gave us our capacity to laugh and created that laughter for a reason. He placed helpful chemicals in our bodies and wanted us to experience their benefits.
While we agree that laughter is good, notice that neither folk lore nor science tell us exactly what kind of laughter works the best. Does this latest discovery mean that we will get well if we laugh at crude jokes? Or will laughing at the misfortunes of others make us healthier?
The Bible says not. From this proverb of Solomon’s, we get clues about the exact kind of laughter that is good for us. It is laughter that is tied to the inner person, mirth that is not outward behavior. He says a “cheerful heart” is good medicine. This means a sustained disposition rather than an outburst of delight. While external laughter usually requires our funny bone to be tickled or a peculiar situation to occur, a cheerful heart just is.
Throughout the Bible, a cheerful heart is defined as that which belongs to the people who fully trust God. This kind of heart is full of the Holy Spirit and with Him, that person is content. The Spirit gives a steadfast attitude through the twists and turns of life. Rather than complain or become impatient or upset, a cheerful heart enjoys life — without it having to be funny.
This cheerful heart also sees good first, another quality that comes from the Holy Spirit. It does not focus on the worst in people or the downside of events. People may be nasty and life’s ride may be a roller coaster, but rather than hating folks or having white knuckles, a cheerful hearted person loves people and raises both hands to enjoy the ride.
Because this disposition is based on faith, people with a cheerful heart can laugh at troubles. Nothing upsets them for long because they know that God is more powerful than any trial. He will see His people through life with all its ups and downs.
A genuinely cheerful heart has a mysterious “peace that passes comprehension” (Philippians 4:6-7). This peace is related to trust and is part of the “fruit of the Spirit.” Along with it, the Spirit gives love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. That joy is for those who rejoice in Him and who brings all their troubles to Him.
Our society applauds the latest discoveries and exalts scientific endeavors, and so we should. These honest efforts to unfold the mysteries of creation should reinforce our faith. But there are times that modern science seems so backward and far behind that it is laughable.
Showing posts with label laughter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label laughter. Show all posts
Friday, February 9, 2018
Friday, May 22, 2015
God’s Sense of Humor .............. Parables 277
July 24, 1991
So it takes more energy to frown than smile. So laughing burns 3 ½ calories. So happy people are healthy people. But when I am sad, I need more than a promise of energy, health and weight-loss to get me laughing again.
Actually, I want very much to be a full wit instead of only half a one. I TRY to remember jokes and funny stories. I’ve also invested in a few favorite cartoon books -- that usually produce a chuckle. Old movies and even CBC radio can be side-splitting and I have been known for the occasional practical joke. Life in an empty nest even holds its ribs in hysterics from time to time (as my even-more-serious-than-me husband comes up with some unexpected shenanigan). But with all that, I still feel I am far too serious. I would like to have a fuller sense of humor.
Actually God has one. Consider the giraffe’s looks, the skunk’s perfume and the antics of some of the more peculiar insects. They make us laugh and so they should; our Maker encourages us to have merry heart. He says it is like good medicine (Prov.17:22).
God Himself even laughs, but not at the same things we find amusing. He contemplates the wicked who plot against His people and “...laughs at him: for He sees that his day is coming” (Psalms 37:13).
While we normally don’t laugh in the face of those who mistreat us and might even consider it rude, laughing can be an attitude of heart that keeps us from falling into their false value systems. For instance, if the rich and famous on television or the bigger house up on easy street causes us to wonder if we missed out on the good life, Psalms 52:6 says: “The righteous shall see and fear, and laugh at those who trust in riches...”
Along the same vein, we can laugh in the face of trials. Job 5:22 says “At destruction and famine you shall laugh: neither shall you be afraid of the beasts of the earth.”
This was spoken to a man being chastened by the Lord (of all things), but the Bible affirms God only chastens His children. Put that all together... and what more reason to laugh? Even in trials, I am under the care of my heavenly Father -- who laughs at those who tries to destroy His children!
Another reason for laughter is forgiveness of sins, even though sin itself is certainly not a funny issue. It separates us from God and will send us to eternal damnation. Yet the person who mourns over displeasing God and who longs to be righteous is given the promise of eventual laughter: “Blessed are you that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are you that weep now: for you shall laugh” Luke 6:21).
The idea is that true sorrow over sin leads to repentance, and repentance leads to faith in Jesus Christ and faith in Jesus Christ leads to forgiveness of sin and righteousness... and that leads to laughter!
Those who love God often find themselves laughing over what He does. He promised Sarah and Abraham a son but both entered old age and that promise seemed an impossibility. However, Sarah gave birth at ninety years! No wonder she said, “God has made me laugh...”
Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh...” Surely God’s people should find time for both sadness and laughter. We can easily be burdened over the sin and sorrows that plague our planet, and while it is right to weep and mourn over sin, we should never forget that God laughs. He knows Christ has secured complete victory over all that hurts and destroys. In the end, He will wipe away our tears and usher us into a heaven that is, I am certain, filled with holy laughter.
So it takes more energy to frown than smile. So laughing burns 3 ½ calories. So happy people are healthy people. But when I am sad, I need more than a promise of energy, health and weight-loss to get me laughing again.
Actually, I want very much to be a full wit instead of only half a one. I TRY to remember jokes and funny stories. I’ve also invested in a few favorite cartoon books -- that usually produce a chuckle. Old movies and even CBC radio can be side-splitting and I have been known for the occasional practical joke. Life in an empty nest even holds its ribs in hysterics from time to time (as my even-more-serious-than-me husband comes up with some unexpected shenanigan). But with all that, I still feel I am far too serious. I would like to have a fuller sense of humor.
Actually God has one. Consider the giraffe’s looks, the skunk’s perfume and the antics of some of the more peculiar insects. They make us laugh and so they should; our Maker encourages us to have merry heart. He says it is like good medicine (Prov.17:22).
God Himself even laughs, but not at the same things we find amusing. He contemplates the wicked who plot against His people and “...laughs at him: for He sees that his day is coming” (Psalms 37:13).
While we normally don’t laugh in the face of those who mistreat us and might even consider it rude, laughing can be an attitude of heart that keeps us from falling into their false value systems. For instance, if the rich and famous on television or the bigger house up on easy street causes us to wonder if we missed out on the good life, Psalms 52:6 says: “The righteous shall see and fear, and laugh at those who trust in riches...”
Along the same vein, we can laugh in the face of trials. Job 5:22 says “At destruction and famine you shall laugh: neither shall you be afraid of the beasts of the earth.”
This was spoken to a man being chastened by the Lord (of all things), but the Bible affirms God only chastens His children. Put that all together... and what more reason to laugh? Even in trials, I am under the care of my heavenly Father -- who laughs at those who tries to destroy His children!
Another reason for laughter is forgiveness of sins, even though sin itself is certainly not a funny issue. It separates us from God and will send us to eternal damnation. Yet the person who mourns over displeasing God and who longs to be righteous is given the promise of eventual laughter: “Blessed are you that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are you that weep now: for you shall laugh” Luke 6:21).
The idea is that true sorrow over sin leads to repentance, and repentance leads to faith in Jesus Christ and faith in Jesus Christ leads to forgiveness of sin and righteousness... and that leads to laughter!
Those who love God often find themselves laughing over what He does. He promised Sarah and Abraham a son but both entered old age and that promise seemed an impossibility. However, Sarah gave birth at ninety years! No wonder she said, “God has made me laugh...”
Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh...” Surely God’s people should find time for both sadness and laughter. We can easily be burdened over the sin and sorrows that plague our planet, and while it is right to weep and mourn over sin, we should never forget that God laughs. He knows Christ has secured complete victory over all that hurts and destroys. In the end, He will wipe away our tears and usher us into a heaven that is, I am certain, filled with holy laughter.
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