A man goes on a 2-month business trip to Europe and leaves his cat with his brother. Three days before his return he calls his brother.
Brother 1: So how is my cat doing?
Brother 2: He's Dead
Brother 1: He's Dead! What do you mean He's Dead! I loved that cat. Couldn't you think of a nicer way to tell me! I'm leaving in 3 days. You could of broke me to the news easier. You could of told me today that she got out of the house or something. Then when I called before I left you could of told me, Well, we found her but she is up on the roof and we're having trouble getting her down. Then when I call you from the airport you could of told me, The Fire Department was there and scared her off the roof and the cat died when it hit the ground.
Brother 2: I'm sorry...you're right...that was insensitive I won't let it happen again.
Brother 1: Alright, alright, forget about it. Anyway, how is Mom doing?
Brother 2: She's up on the roof and we're having trouble getting her down.
Humor is very good—It can be hard to see because we speak a different language in a different culture, but Jesus used humor appropriately, even in His teaching.
When is joking not appropriate?
Funerals, not taking a foreign culture into mind,
Ephesians 5:4
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Proverbs 8:12-14
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
Proverbs 12:8
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.
Let's read a few proverbs that direct our speech in good ways...
Proverbs 2:12
Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,
Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
Proverbs 12:6
The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
Proverbs 16:21
The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction.
Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 17:27
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.
Proverbs 18:4
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
Proverbs 22:12
The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
Not to make us uptight and lacking humor, but God uses the Bible to help us see the importance of our words, and here is just a sampling of how He leads us to be wise with them.
