My dear readers,

I am only joking?

Proverbs 10:23: “It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.”

How many of us have uttered, “I am only joking” after we said something hurtful or insulting and the person we targeted reacted in hurt or anger? These types of common hurts hidden behind a facade of “fun and games”, of “do not mean it” mentality are far too common. It breeds loose tongues. It encourages careless and thoughtless words. Feelings are deeply hurt. Relationships that were previously peaceful are stained by the wounds of a friend.

This kind of double dealing is not limited to words but also includes actions like pranks! In the name of pranking a person, it can actually be the desire to take revenge and hurt. Some foolish and naive individuals might jump into the same diabolical band wagon thinking that it is just for fun! Behind the fun is the mean streak of a fool!

This is a fool who is foolish in the eyes of God. He thinks that behind his “sport” or “laughter” he can hurt and insult without getting caught. He may have mastered this sinful art through his many years of entertaining and worldly pursuits and have succeeded very well in the abundance of what he possesses. This mask has enamoured him to many people who might think that he is the “life of the party” or the centre of everyone’s attention whenever there is a crowd, and it has doomed him into a manner of life that he struggles to get out of. It has become second nature to his sin depraved nature. He hides his depravity behind a veneer of sheen and shine that dazzles the people of the world with their carnal approach to life. The Bible is not describing the inhabitants in Gentile nations but the nation of Israel. She was surrounded by a God-ordained culture and the vivid sacrificial system for the serious nature of sin that required the shedding of a copious amount of blood toward the sinner’s redemption before God! Yet despite a God-ordained environment, the Israelites needed to be warned of this dangerous “sport” of hurting others behind a facade of smile and glee.

The frightful truth is that even when the person is born again in Christ, this second nature that he has mastered all his life may not have been left behind! He is still controlled by this carnal old man who is supposed to have been put to death by the power of Christ’s salvific work that began within his soul. As a child of God, he ought to struggle against it and put it down whenever it rears its ugly head to control him. After salvation, he has been delivered from the bondage of sin, and the dominion of sin as well. He has the strength of God in Christ to overcome all sins in his life so that he need not come under the power of any.

Any mischief the unbeliever does is self-destructive. It will destroy his soul. Every time such a sin is committed it will seal his hardened heart. This hidden sin when committed is like laying over his stony heart another layer of dead skin, making his heart harder and harder to be impacted by the Word of God. He has heard the gospel before and yet his life of deception remains constant without any change, or a morsel desire to change. This sin definitely hurts others especially the ones he targets. The people around him who laugh at his “sporting mischief” are encouraging him and might even imitate him thinking that it is funny. Their relationship with the victim also suffers. They have a lower view of the victim and will also see him as an easy target to make fun of.

But “a man of understanding”, i.e. a Christian, is wise. Only a child of God is considered a man of understanding by God. The word “understanding” is not about head knowledge. This Hebrew word has the idea of intelligence, i.e. discernment. This is an intelligence that is anchored in the Word of God. He knows God's Word well. He is discreet. He has been endowed by God with the mind of Christ. He begins to see the world and interprets its events and the people according to Holy Scriptures. In short, he sees the world and responds to it in the way that God is pleased with. With the understanding of God’s Truth in his mind and heart, he knows how to apply God's Word to all the circumstances in life, and with the people he meets whether they are friend or foe or his enemy or God's enemy. He is able to decide, speak and act according to Holy Scripture, thus bringing glory to God and Christ.

Foolish transgressions like “sporting” to bring mischief will not be tolerated. He knows how to guard his heart and mind and ensure that his yea is yea, and nay is nay, for anything more than that is evil. He learns that from the Master Teacher Jesus Christ Himself! Matthew 5:37: “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” He flees as far away as possible from such sins. He will not participate in such sins. He has the discernment to see through such hidden mischief and will not join in the mischief by laughing with them. He will also wisely and discreetly admonish them for committing such mischief that ruins lives and destroys relationships.

For children of God, all our relationships must be counted as precious. The price is the name of Christ that we bear everywhere we go. The relationship between the husband and the wife must be at the top of the list. It is a relationship that must be guarded at all costs! Do not mock or make fun of each other publicly in front of others. It may make others laugh but the hurt might be building up beneath. If the couple likes to do so and jest in private, it must also be judiciously done. Be sensitive to each other’s feelings. Whenever it is done, it must never be with a hidden agenda to hide mischief.

Too many relationships in church have been hurt because of this sinful mischief. From young people to elderlies, it is a sin that knows no age limit. It has everything to do with the heart and the careless tongue. Seek first the spiritual well-being of others around us. In jest, be sincere and never hurtful. Sometimes we joke with one another during meal times. Let them be truly happy moments and not painful ones laced with sporting mischief. Family members commit this transgression too often. Jealousy or feelings of envy or long-term unforgiving hurts may breed sporting mischief. It is fertile ground for this sin to grow and fester. As children of God, all sins and hurts must be forgiven and forgotten as they have been washed by the blood of Christ.

Even when unbelieving siblings behave in such a manner, forgive and respond with love and kindness for Christ’s sake. This is the teaching of our Lord to all who are children with understanding. This is the reaction of the wise in heart. Matthew 5:39-42: “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” The life of a child of understanding is so much richer and fuller when he is wise. He is able to testify for God how real and loving he remains despite the world becoming more and more evil. This is precisely why Christ has saved us and left us behind to grow in grace and in the knowledge of His Holy Word, making us godly witnesses in a world of evil and sporting mischief.

Conclusion – Be careful of being the “life of the party” or the class clown! Behind this facade of fun and laughter may hide the sporting mask of a fool! The LORD knows it! So must the fool to save his soul and stop hurting others. If we are children of God, then He has made us into sons and daughters of understanding who are endowed with the heavenly wisdom to live right. Let the Almighty, Omniscient God search every part of our being and behind every word spoken and deed done, and let Him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant, there is no sporting mischief in your life!” Amen.