Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.—Proverbs 14:9 To the fool sin is a mere joke. In his mind it isn’t all that serious. Fools laugh at the very things that offend and grieve the heart of God. They joke about the very things that bring judgment from God. We see this light-hearted attitude all around us today. That is a sad indictment against a nation that prints “In God We Trust” on it’s currency, while promoting the very thing that caused Christ to suffer and die on the cross. To put it in language you will understand—Sin ain’t funny! The second half of this verse teaches us what our sinful society has forgotten–the highest honor of life, pleasing God, is attained through righteousness. If we want God’s blessings we must respect His rules. Gaining His favor is the key to our security. We are never safe if we are sinful (Proverbs 14:34). You and I cannot change the world, but we can have an impact in our family, work place, and community. We become a positive influence when we make it clear to others that sin is serious. By refusing to laugh at their filthy jokes and participate in their sinful activities we send a message—sin ain’t funny! I can’t help but wonder how many people will take note that I used the word “ain’t”, maybe even get offended that I didn’t use proper English. Isn’t it strange that some folks will pay more attention to that than they do to the sin that is in their life?
