Last Saturday night, Kevin Durant faced his old Golden State teammates as he and the Brooklyn Nets came to town. The Nets ended up winning, but before the game, a question asked in a press conference with Warriors head coach, Steve Kerr, caught my ear.
Regarding the sense of humor of new Nets head coach, Steve Nash (previously with the Warriors), the reporter asked this: “In what way might humor or really good-humored personality help a guy making his way in the league as a coach?”
Kerr responded, “Well it’s a good way to break the ice. A good way to show humility. I think Steve's humor involves a lot of self-effacing jabs. He’s not afraid to laugh at himself and I think that combination of humor and humility is a really good one when you’re stepping into an NBA coaching role.”
How fascinating to consider humor as a valuable trait for an NBA coach. I love hearing that the former league MVP can laugh at himself and show humility. To think that humor could create a tighter bond within an NBA locker room is very intriguing.
This topic of humor is also interesting to unpack in our own lives. What does our laughter or lack of laughter reveal about us? Does our sense of humor provide value in our relationships? With life being especially hard right now, do we find moments in our day to get a good laugh in?
When we do laugh, what do we find funny? What is our favorite brand of comedy? Are we willing to laugh at ourselves? Do we try and make other people laugh to bring them joy?
Does our humor “break the ice” and “show humility” or are we so serious and miserable that we have a tough time laughing at anything? Are the jokes edifying, uplifting, pure, and beneficial or do we laugh at things centered around vulgarity and indecency...or even at the expense of hurting others?
As followers of Jesus, we absolutely want to be filled with joy and laughter and not take ourselves too seriously, but what we laugh at and find funny does matter.
We have to guard our hearts and minds and filter out comedy that doesn’t align with who we are in Christ. We are different from the world so our laughter should be too.
Ephesians 5:4 (NLT) tells us, “Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.”
As followers of Jesus, our laughter can be so much richer and fulfilling when it's rooted in thankfulness for the ways we experience Him, His goodness, and the work He does all around us.
We laugh because we're blown away by His amazing grace. All we can do is laugh when we witness His power and supernatural abilities and the unique ways He reveals His glory.
God has saved us from our sin and continues to do many unbelievable things, so our joy and thankfulness lead to the best kind of laughter.
The Bible gives us these two encouraging examples:
Psalm 126:1-3 (NLT): "When the Lord brought back His exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, 'What amazing things the Lord has done for them.' Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!”
Genesis 21:1-2; 6-7 (NLT): "The Lord kept His Word and did for Sarah exactly what He had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would...
"And Sarah declared, 'God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!'”
Today, let’s evaluate the kind of laughter we have in our lives and look for worthwhile reasons to chuckle and smile. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, when I think about how good, creative, powerful, and kind You are, I can’t help but smile. The remarkable ways You show up in my life cause me to laugh. Thank you for the gift of laughter. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What makes you laugh in life?
In what ways do you need to make some changes in your approach to humor and laughter?
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