Get with the Program

GET WITH THE PROGRAM

You ever joke with someone or someone joke with you, but it get's old? When I lived in New Mexico I had my house and car vandalized(in fun) probably 7 or 8 times. There came a point where it wasn't funny anymore, it was down right annoying. Have you ever had someone that didn't know when to stop on a practical joke or a teasing or took it way overboard?

The flicking of your ear in the seat behind you in school, the pulling of your hair on the school bus, the putting stuff in your desk at work, or constantly picking on you at school or work? Maybe constantly putting you down in front of others or hiding your stuff? The list could go on and on of the stuff people do, that they think is funny, but when you keep doing it, the funny eventually stops and the hurt begins? I admit I don't mind a good practical joke or teasing or occasion, but a person needs to know when to stop and the boundaries of the person they are doing it to.

It sort of makes me ponder how we treat people? The bible calls us to "encourage" people and look out for people, help them, support them, love them, take care of them, and watch out for them? I'm sure God is cool with us having fun with people, but not at the expense of hurt feelings, resentment, or strained relationships.

This article today really isn't about practical jokes, it's about how we see people and how we need to see people through God's eyes. God wants us to have fun, enjoy life, and laugh, but He also wants us to have healthy relationships, social skills, and a positive attitude toward the well-being of others. I think God created each of us with an inner working to care for the needs of others.
God wants us to treat others with respect. He wants us to value each person as important, and He wants us to love others as we love ourselves. After all the golden rule is, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and the greatest commandment in the bible is: "Love God and Love your neighbor".

How different would our world be if we would start treating people better, honor their feelings, and respect them as God's creation? We say hello to the janitor, give the cashier a compliment, speaking kindly to the waitress, and we'd probably treat our classmates, co-workers, employees, and strangers better.

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfullness."
Hebrews 3:13(NIV)