Not Funny

Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,Is the man [or woman] who deceives [their] neighbor,And says, “I was only joking!”

Proverbs 26:18-19 (NKJV)

H. A. Ironside commented, “Amusement at the expense of another’s suffering, none but a most thoughtless and selfish person will engage in.”

Deceiving your neighbor and then covering it up is the topic of this proverb.

To deceive is “to represent as true that which is known to be false.” It is to mislead someone or to trick someone or to betray someone. Do we ever do this?

Wives, do you ever mislead your husband regarding how much money you’ve spent? Or have you ever betrayed a friend by sharing private information she trusted you with? Or have you ever tricked someone into doing something you knew they didn’t want to do? A good way for us to realize how wrong and hurtful this is, is to remember when someone else has done it to us.

So the best lesson we can learn from this proverb is to be honest, to be fair with others. One of the greatest reputations that you can have during your life is that others can and do trust you. How wonderful it is for people to know that they are safe with you. Their reputations are safe, their money is safe, their feelings are safe, their private affairs are safe. Can you say that this is always true with you? If it isn’t, if this has not always been true in the past, today is a new day, and God himself will teach you a new way.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Jesus taught us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). This gives us a simple guideline for living. Is it easy? Not always. It isn’t always easy to stay calm, or put others first, or to refuse to retaliate when hurt. But when we obey God’s commandment, it’s not only better for others; it’s better for us. Let’s take it further than just refraining from bad behavior; let’s learn to be genuinely interested in people. This frame of mind stretches us past our own little worlds and interests. It teaches us that God has a big world, and he also has a big family.

One Year Bible Reading

Jeremiah 51:54–52:34; Titus 3:1-15; Psalm 100:1-5; Proverbs 26:18-19