OUR DAILY BREAD Friday, May 5, 1995 --------------- READ: Proverbs 26:13-19 HELPFUL HUMOR "How can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?" - Matthew 7:4 Humor can be cruel and offensive, but it can also be kind and helpful. I have used it in sermons to make a point or in meetings to break the tension. I have also profited from humor when it pointed out my faults. Recently, while watching a film series on family living, I laughed at the comical examples of foibles and failures to which we as husbands are so prone. Yet even though I was amused, I saw enough of myself in these funny situations to feel convicted. As a result, I think I'll be a better husband from now on -- and after more than 50 years of marriage! God gave us the gift of humor and the capacity to laugh. I believe Jesus had a twinkle in His eye when He said that a person should take the plank out of his own eye before trying to remove a speck of sawdust from the eye of someone else (Mt. 7:4). I can just see His listeners smile and hear them laugh softly. But I'm sure they also understood His point, and some may have been convicted about their own judgmental attitude. Similarly, the writer of Proverbs portrayed a lazy man in three exaggerated word pictures (26:13-16). They are humorous, but they drive home a solemn warning. Try using humor to help -- never to hurt. -- Herbert Vander Lugt Give us a sense of humor, Lord, Give us the grace to laugh and smile; But check our lips from needless jest That what we speak may be worthwhile. -- Anon. ------------------------------------------- THOUGHT FOR THE DAY ------------------------------------------- Humor can make a serious difference. ------------------------------------------- THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 5-7 ------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1995, used by permission of Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555, USA. ODB files are being archived at ICLnet by arrangement with Radio Bible Class. RBC is presently developing its own servers and we look forward to RBC's official presence here on the internet in the near future. Written permission to distribute must be obtained from Radio Bible Class. RBC provides a variety of Bible re- sources, 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. Thanks to Larry Holder (lholder@utm.edu) for the email transcript of Our Daily Bread, this copy having originated from distribution to the Conservative Christian Discussion List. This copy was written by permission from RBC, also available from the "ODB List" which may be subscribed to directly. Send a blank email message, with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line, to: odb-request@sptekwv14.wv.tek.com. RBC publications are also available at The Gospel Communications Network: http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/odb/. - ICLnet ========================================================================= ------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db950505.txt .