Ecclesiastes 2:2
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What
doeth it?
In reading the book of Ecclesiastes, we discover that Solomon quickly
found mirth and pleasure to be a vain pursuit. What contribution does
noisy, flashy mirth offer towards making a man or woman truly happy??
What doeth it? Solomon sampled a variety of the lavish delights of kings
to bring himself pleasure - food, costly wine, and watching the most gifted
entertainers of his day. In the end however, all was vanity and vexation
of spirit: and the same things would bring the same result to us, as to
Solomon...
Mirth:
Social merriment; hilarity; high excitement of pleasurable feelings in
company; noisy gaiety, jollity. Mirth differs from joy and cheerfulness,
as always implying noise.
Why am I talking about mirth today? Because there seems to be a growing
movement of it among Christians. The other morning, as I was making breakfast,
I turned on my local Christian radio station only to discover yet another
female Christian "humorist" was featured on a popular radio program. She
was entertaining a large gathering of Christian women with her loud jokes
and hilarious perspective on life, and the program was filled with endless
laughter. Certainly the women present that day went home with sore sides
from such guffawing! Yet I couldn't help but wonder what shape their hearts
would still be in… Is experiencing this high excitement of pleasurable
feelings in such a large company of women really making a difference in
their lives? How much conviction had really set in during that noisy hour
this "humorist and best selling author" held such a captive audience?
How much repentance had even taken place within the hearts of the women
gathered together for the purpose of spiritual encouragement? How much
scripture was shared or were their ears only tickled with funny stories??
Sad to say, this type of "ministry" is nothing more than hype minus any
godly motivation and it has become a strong preference among God's people!
Ladies, contrary to popular belief, normal is MUCH MORE than just a setting
on your dryer - it's to be expected of God's people and it is not a lifestyle
to be tossed aside carelessly in exchange for lightheartedness! It is
to be diligently sought after, not laughed at. The answer to our problems
is not found in a "stick a geranium in your hat" or "pack your gloomies
in a cereal box" type attitude - it is found in casting all our cares
upon the Lord and dealing with them soberly! Life is not a cesspool, it's
something we are going to answer for one day and it's high time you and
I pondered that fact!! Instead, we've got aged Christian women encouraging
us to leak laughs between pampers and depends... Even preachers nowadays
seem to be telling more and more jokes from behind the pulpit. The power
of God in ministry has disappeared and the time has come where we have
traded in an appetite for truth for a ravenous hunger to be tickled...
2 Tim. 4:3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after
their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching
ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be
turned unto fables.
Frankly ladies, I'm tired of being entertained as a Christian! I want
the truth and I want it taught to me from a woman who walks with God,
lives a godly example, and ministers to me in a God-fearing manner. Whether
or not I've got a serious problem in my life, I'm not going to listen
to a loud mouth woman who's on the road half the year while her husband
and children wait at home for you and I to finish laughing noisily so
she can return to her house! It's not a "tude" we are to be sporting ladies,
it's a testimony! What has happened to us?? Why can't older Christian
women disciple and minister to others apart from all this foolishness
and mirth? Thousands of women spend money to buy these humorous experiences
just to escape the burdens of their life. Gatherings such as these are
responsible for sending home silly women, not sober ones, and scripture
says it's the silly ones that are led away captive by the devil...
2 Tim. 3:5-7
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn
away. [6] For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead
captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, [7] Ever
learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
The Bible tells us, having food and raiment, let us therewith be content
- nothing more is necessary! We don't need entertainment to cope with
life… Every earthly pleasure leaves the heart and mind as hungry and unsatisfied
as before. Solomon's wisdom remained with him; it didn't depart when the
show was over because it came from God! You see, ladies, happiness arises
not from the situation in which we are placed and women are very susceptible
to this kind of thinking. We are always looking for an escape to our guilt
or fear and consequently, women fall for a host of wrong approaches to
their problems. Humor has become a trendy tonic for many troubles but
it is unproductive ministry; just like many soap bubbles that burst and
leave nothing behind… It is only through Jesus Christ that true joy can
be realized!
Eccles. 7:3
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance
the heart is made better.
Having a reputation for piety and honesty is more desirable than all the
wealth and pleasure in this world, and it's certainly better than being
known as a "humorist". Though many would disagree, the Bible teaches us
that it will do us more good to go to a funeral than to a feast! Don't
misunderstand me, ladies, I'm not against laughter - the Bible says there
is a time for it. However, if you study it out, you'll find that it was
most always a reaction to a marvelous work that God had done, it was joy
in it's purest form. I'm talking today about mirth, for there is a definite
distinction between that and simple laughter. Mirth is nothing more than
foolish jesting and Christ never stooped to such noise and nonsense when
ministering to people. The parables He taught us were sober stories, amen?
How many scriptures have you come across in your Bible reading where Jesus
was filled with hilarity - or even laughing, for that matter?? Whenever
His disciples were gathered around Him, Jesus always taught them in a
reverential manner, leaving them with a clear understanding of the Father's
Word and will; a sobering mindset in order to cope properly with life
at hand. Let's face it; we would all rather go to a birthday party than
a funeral, right? Considering how apt we are to be vain and indulge our
flesh, God says it is best to go to the house of mourning, to learn the
end of man as to this world...
Ecclesiastes 7:4
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools
is in the house of mirth.
The Lord is instructing us here that seriousness is better than mirth
and jollity. That is best for us which is best for our souls, though it
be unpleasant to our senses. It is better to have our infirmities dealt
with by the rebuke of the wise, than to have them gratified by the song
of fools. Where is your heart today, dear lady - in the house of mirth
or the house of mourning? Is it silly or sober? You see, the laughter
of a fool is soon gone; the end of his mirth is heaviness. Reality sets
back in and what then? How do you cope with life? Do you sit back and
wait to fork out some more money for the next Christian comedian who comes
along, so you can split your sides in laughter again, or do you finally
get on your knees and do serious business with God?
Proverbs 14:13
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is
heaviness.
Ladies, the ways of carelessness, of worldliness, and of sensuality seem
right to those that walk in them; but self-deceivers prove to be self-destroyers.
Pleasure seeking is a selfish endeavor which destroys true joy. Surely
you can see the vanity today of carnal mirth - it's taken God's people
off balance; and it is nothing more than flesh at it's fullest!
James 4:9
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning,
and your joy to heaviness.
Oh, I know many Christian women dearly love their best-selling authors
and humorists, those that would entertain them and help them forget their
sorrows like a drug... We are addicted to pleasurable feelings, amen?
However, here in scripture cautions are laid out before us against such
corrupt affections and love of this world, which is actually hostility
toward God…
Ephes. 5:1-4
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love,
as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering
and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and
all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you,
as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, NOR FOOLISH TALKING NOR JESTING,
WHICH ARE NOT CONVENIENT: but rather giving of thanks.
Ladies, we are not to find our short tempers, our unsubmissive attitudes,
our self-centeredness, our bad habits, etc. amusing! Do you think the
Lord snickers at these conditions residing in the hearts of His children??
Certainly not... All sin must be wept over; here, in godly sorrow, or,
hereafter, in eternal misery. Our heavenly and HOLY Father will not refuse
to comfort one who really mourns for sin, or to exalt the one who humbles
himself before Him. I truly think that if the Lord were to speak before
a large gathering of women today, He would have something very sobering
to leave us with, just as He did in the past, amen? If we as Christian
women are indeed ambassadors for Christ and standing in His stead, why
don't we fill this role appropriately and in a holy fashion. Let's get
rid of the noisy nonsense and make a real difference in the lives of others!
Ephes. 6:20
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly,
AS I OUGHT TO SPEAK.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2002 Pamela A. Iannello
