"A Time To Weep And A Time To Laugh"

Although there is "a time to weep and a time to laugh," who does not prefer the latter to the former? (Ecclesiastes 3:4) Sad to say, we live in a world that primarily gives us reasons for weeping. Depressing news dominates the media. We recoil in horror when we hear of youngsters gunning down fellow students at school, of parents abusing their children, of terrorists killing or maiming innocent victims, and of so-called natural disasters playing havoc with human lives and property. Starving, hollow-eyed children and uprooted refugees on the run vie for our attention on the television screen. Previously unfamiliar terms like ethic cleansing. AIDS, germ warfare, and El Nino now create anxiety in our minds and hearts-each in its own way.

No doubt about it, today's world is full of tragedy and heartache. Nevertheless, as if to downplay the seriousness of the situation, the entertainment industry routinely serves up shallow, tasteless, oftentimes immoral and violent offerings, designed to mislead us into ignoring the misery that others are suffering. But the carefree spirit of foolish jesting and frivolous laughter that such entertainment engenders is not to be confused with genuine joy. The joy that is a fruit of God's spirit is something Satan's world simply cannot provide. -Galatians 5:22, 23; Ephesians 5:3, 4.

Recognizing the world's deplorable state, we can understand that today is hardly the time to give high priority to laughter. It is not the time to live only for recreation and entertainment or to allow "having fun" to take precedence over the pursuit of spiritual matters. (Compare Ecclesiastes 7:2-4) "Those making use of the world" should be "as those not using it to the full," said the apostle Paul. Why? Because "the scene of this world is changing." (1 Corinthians 7:31) True Christians live each day in full recognition of the seriousness of the times is which we live. -Philippians 4:8.

Next time: Despite Weeping, Truly Happy!

Watchtower, 1999