a Biblical essay by Jackie Houchin

A fool, a court jester, a joke-teller, a comedian. We enjoy stand up comics. They make us laugh, and a joyful heart is good, like a medicine, says the Bible (Proverbs 17:22). From Charlie Chaplin to Robin Williams, we flock to their films for a belly laugh. It feels good. It relaxes us. it takes us away from life with it’s stresses and sorrows. For an hour or a minute.

The book of Proverbs in the Bible has a lot to say about fools. Here are a few:

1. Proverbs 18:6-7 –

   A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

2. Proverbs 10:15 –

   He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin

3. Proverbs 14:7 –

   Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.

Did you know that most famous comedians have a very dark reality? Most suffer from low self-esteem and depression. Some resort to suicide.  So making others laugh is not such a good thing then. At least for oneself.

Perhaps the most telling attribute is in Psalm 14:1 – A fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

“Ah,” but you say, “now, you are talking about something different. Not about commedians. Not about joke-tellers. You are talking religion!”

Yes I am.

But perhaps that darkness in a comedian’s heart, that depression that sometimes kills. Perhaps that comes from having no hope. Knowing that there IS God, knowing HIM, and knowing that He rewards those who trust in Him, THIS IS HOPE. Hope for now and hope for eternity. Having that kind of hope in a person’s heart will bring joy, not just laughter.

For God has come in the flesh (in the form of Jesus), has lived in the flesh, suffered and died in the flesh to be identified with us – with sinful flesh – and to experience the wrath of God on sin for us, in the flesh, so that ALL who believe and trust in Him can have life, and that life, eternally. We CAN get out of life alive! That is our hope. That is our true joy.

Don’t be like the fool. Don’t say “there is no God.”  Say and believe and trust in God and in the work of Jesus the Savior. Receive God’s grace by faith and be saved eternally.

Romans 10:9-13 – if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Don’t look to “nonsense,” trust in the LORD.  That’s perfect “sense.”