Humor Can Help
“I have never understood why it should be considered derogatory to the Creator to suppose that he has a sense of humor” (William Inge). Humor is a form of play and involves laughter. God’s wisdom both plays and laughs with humans (Prov 8:30-31, NEB). According to Eccl 3:1-4, there is a time for laughter, play, and having fun (See CWSD #7832 for the word in Eccl 3:4). This would certainly seem to include humor. Furthermore, sarcasm and mockery are forms of humor. At 1 Ki 18:27, the prophet Elijah uses mocking humor and sarcasm to offer ideas as to why the false god, Baal, has not responded (Nelson, First and Second Kings, p 117 with Dilday, 1, 2 Kings, p 213). Elijah suggests that Baal may be asleep or in the process of defecating (Gray, 1 & 2 Kings, p 398). Jesus appeared to use the humor of exaggeration in places like Mt 7:4-5 and Mt 19:24. Similarly, the Lord had the funny details of the story at Acts 12:13-16 put into the New Testament.
Humor can be so very helpful. It does our own heart good (Prov 17:22). It can break the tension or embarrassment of a situation. It can preserve someone’s dignity or enable others to connect with us. We may seem more human. It can be a marvelous way to convey a criticism or contrary point of view. “Humor is the shock absorber of life; it helps us take the blows” (Peggy Noonan). Furthermore, humor may help us be humble since “all higher humor begins with ceasing to take oneself seriously” (Hermann Hesse).
Thank God for laughter and humor. If we would laugh more, if we would learn humor, let’s be around those who have a good sense of humor. It can be learned and is worth the effort. After all, aren’t we to seek to become more like the Lord?
Comforting others is costly but worth it.