Today is a day loved by some and despised by others. April 1st is known colloquially as April Fool’s Day. It’s a day where the gloves come off when it comes to practical jokes, pranks, and all sorts of tomfoolery. You might send someone snipe hunting or give them a believable but ridiculous story that tests their gullibility. This is the day to slip some salt into someone’s soda, hot sauce on their hamburger, or pickle juice on their pancakes.
I know – there are some reading this who see no amusement in such adolescent antics. Do yourself a favor today and get a button that says, “Leave me alone! I don’t want to play!” Otherwise, you might be considered fair game for someone’s follies.
We should be able to have fun with each other. Sharing laughter together helps strengthen the bonds. Pranks should always be harmless and humorous. Never is there any malicious intent. Pranksters should observe limits and know when enough’s enough. Actually, they should way before reaching that “enough’s enough” point. We never want to be guilty of going “too far.”
In years past, Bro. Ken Dady, our WOL missionary, has experienced some pranks from our youth leaders while at Schroon Lake, NY. And, I’ll put my hand in the air to say that I was right there in the thick of it, formulating and executing the plan. Even though it wasn’t on April 1st, it was in the same spirit and vein as an April Fool’s joke. One year, we decorated his car as if it was the wedding getaway car. With “Just Married” and hearts painted all over the windows, we made his car look festive by tying cans to the back bumper and white streamers and balloons everywhere you could see. As he got into his car with Miss Pam, those who didn’t know them wished them enthusiastic congratulations to which they graciously smiled and said, “thank you.”
Another time, we decorated his car like it was Christmas. Garland, a Christmas tree, lights, and presents were there for him.
Did we do any of this because we dislike him? Quite the opposite! We did it to show our love, appreciation, and friendship with someone we highly respect. It was a fun token of our great esteem for both of them. Hey, if we didn’t love them, we wouldn’t have bothered!
Now, I totally agree that some people don’t seem to have an “off switch” when it comes to pranks. That person is no longer funny and has crossed into the realm of being annoying and an irritant. Don’t be that person!
There are also some folks who like to play pranks but can’t take it. We remember that old saying from our childhood: if you can’t take it, don’t dish it out. Don’t be that person, either!
Even though there’s nothing wrong with harmless, fun, occasional jokes (emphasis on occasional), we don’t ever want to be accused of being a perpetual fool. There are some who fit that description and are described in the Bible.
David writes in Psalms 14:1, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” Because the fool has denounced God and His existence, he will…
- Refuse to receive God’s commands (Proverbs 10:8)
- Become a servant to the wise at heart (Proverbs 11:29)
- Spend money to get wisdom and then reject it because he has no heart for it (Proverbs 17:16; 18:2)
- Despite it all, he will still trust his own heart (Proverbs 28:26)
Psalms and Proverbs alone give over 46 descriptions and references to fools. Much is to be said about a person who is a genuine fool.
For the Christian, we are often viewed as fools by a world that doesn’t understand the wisdom of the cross. Today, if you must be a fool, be the right kind of fool.
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (19) For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. (20) Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (21) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (22) For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: (23) But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; (24) But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (25) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)
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