OUR DAILY BREAD Thurs., March 23, 1995 --------------- READ: Proverbs 15:12-15 "LAUGHTER" "Like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool." -- Ecclesiastes 7:6 Your dog may be a great companion. You may hunt together, play together, eat together, even sleep on the same bed together. Yet, although you and your dog may share life, you will never share a laugh. As far as we know, humans are the only creatures of God who enjoy humor. Laughter is a distinctive of human beings. Laughter also can tell something about you. Show me what amuses you, and I can make a good guess about the sort of person you are. If you laugh at filthy stories, you give yourself away. If you scoff at virtue, you have embraced vice. If you laugh at another's failure or misfortune, you have a cruel streak inside of you. If you can laugh at your own stupidities and mistakes, you handle life with some skill. I believe Christians have a greater capacity to enjoy healthy laughter than others. After all, we live with the promise of eternal life and with knowledge that God can use even our setbacks to move us forward. Proverbs 15:13 tells us that "a merry heart makes a cheerful countenance." But the Bible also says that the laughter of fools who are living only for this life is like the "crackling of thorns" that are burned in a fire (Eccl. 7:6). Ask yourself, "What makes me laugh?" -- Haddon W. Robinson To know the Savior brings great joy, The kind that nothing can destroy; And though a smile should light your face, Coarse humor surely has no place. -- Dennis J. De Haan ------------------------------------- THOUGHT FOR THE DAY ------------------------------------- What we laugh at reveals our character. ---------------------------------------------- THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 1-4 ============================================================================ Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1995, used by permission of Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids,Michigan 49555, USA. Written permission must be obtained from RBC for any further posting or distribution. Radio Bible Class provides a variety of Bible resources, which are free of charge. RBC is not funded by any group or denomination, and support comes voluntarily from its Members and Friends. Write for more information, or call 1-800-598-7221. This copy originated from lholder@utm.edu with written permission from RBC. Our Daily Bread is also available on Internet from the World Wide Web page at: http://www.calvin.edu/Christian/daily-bread/ <>< ============================================================================ ------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db950323.txt .