laughing at me
People laugh at people. Laughing at others of course can cause pain, but laughing at ourselves is often one of the best things we can do for the benefit of others and for ourselves.
The scripture says, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes..." [Prov 21:2], but it also says; "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" [Rom 3:23]
God laughs at the foolish efforts of vain men, ["He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision." Psalms 2:4].
"Every man" and "all" include those with the title “Doctor” in front of their names and the greatest of football heroes on the field and the lowest bums on the street. We all believe we are right and we all have sinned, but the scripture also says “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven is perfect” [Matt 5:48]. Before we can become perfect like Him we must follow His lead. Jesus tells us to come to Him as a little child and to take the lowest place. If we are to be elevated let it be the Master that elevates us rather than our own presumption or pride. Come to Him as a child, feeble, weak, foolish and inept. Recognize that on our own we do not deserve even the lowest place at His table. Our own best efforts are simply filthy rags compared to Him. Before He will take us higher, we need to recognize how low we really are when we are on our own… We should be able to either laugh or cry (or both?) about our own shortcomings.
Jesus overcame the world of His flesh and with His help so can we. To rise to the top, we must always start at the bottom. First comes cleaning out the garbage and then comes the refilling of the vessel with the good things of God.
As a young man, I was seldom able to laugh at my own shortcomings because I believed that most everybody was laughing at them already [silently if not out loud]. Of course that was likely seldom ever true, but I did not recognize it at the time... The truth is that most people are too involved in themselves to really care about me or anyone else. We all begin, as very selfish creatures in order to preserve natural life before we are able understand what is happening. It is a long trip from nearly perfect selfishness to perfect selflessness! This is the journey God wants each of us to make and He is willing to help.
Can I laugh at myself yet?
Sometimes!
People laugh at people. Laughing at others of course can cause pain, but laughing at ourselves is often one of the best things we can do for the benefit of others and for ourselves.
The scripture says, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes..." [Prov 21:2], but it also says; "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" [Rom 3:23]
God laughs at the foolish efforts of vain men, ["He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision." Psalms 2:4].
"Every man" and "all" include those with the title “Doctor” in front of their names and the greatest of football heroes on the field and the lowest bums on the street. We all believe we are right and we all have sinned, but the scripture also says “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven is perfect” [Matt 5:48]. Before we can become perfect like Him we must follow His lead. Jesus tells us to come to Him as a little child and to take the lowest place. If we are to be elevated let it be the Master that elevates us rather than our own presumption or pride. Come to Him as a child, feeble, weak, foolish and inept. Recognize that on our own we do not deserve even the lowest place at His table. Our own best efforts are simply filthy rags compared to Him. Before He will take us higher, we need to recognize how low we really are when we are on our own… We should be able to either laugh or cry (or both?) about our own shortcomings.
Jesus overcame the world of His flesh and with His help so can we. To rise to the top, we must always start at the bottom. First comes cleaning out the garbage and then comes the refilling of the vessel with the good things of God.
As a young man, I was seldom able to laugh at my own shortcomings because I believed that most everybody was laughing at them already [silently if not out loud]. Of course that was likely seldom ever true, but I did not recognize it at the time... The truth is that most people are too involved in themselves to really care about me or anyone else. We all begin, as very selfish creatures in order to preserve natural life before we are able understand what is happening. It is a long trip from nearly perfect selfishness to perfect selflessness! This is the journey God wants each of us to make and He is willing to help.
Can I laugh at myself yet?
Sometimes!
