As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, "Am not I in sport" (26:18-19).
A man had the habit of making fun of people as a joke. He would often lapse into extremely poor taste, and he offended regularly. When people would react in anger he would accuse them of not having a sense of humor, and he would say, "Hey, I'm only kidding. You know how much I think of you." Then he would turn around and insult them all over again. He thought that he was being immensely humorous, and many people laughed at his jokes, just so long as they weren't the target of them.
There is no such thing as a harmless joke at the expense of another human being's feelings or dignity. Christ calls us to respect and love one another, and we have no right to do anything which might prove hurtful. Our words should build each other up, not provide a stumbling block. A lot of cruelty has been masked as jokes throughout the centuries, but one day God will judge what was funny, and what was evil. It is the duty of every person of God to weigh the impact of their words and to speak in ways which are a blessing rather than a curse. The Lord rejoices when our words are sweet and gentle, but His wrath is kindled by words which burn and cause anguish.
prayer: Lord, fill my mouth with the sweet sounds that are pleasing to you. In a world of such unkindness, let my speech reflect a love and caring that is foreign to most, and a haven of peace to all. Amen.