Walking with the Wise #174: Heart Issues

“Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and the end of joy may be grief.” 

—Proverbs 14:13

Everybody likes to have a good laugh. But laughter is not always the best medicine. Laughter can be a mask for sorrow. Today’s proverb must be understood in the greater context. Solomon had just written about bitterness (v. 10), the destruction of the wicked, the blessing of the righteous (v. 11), and a wake up call for those who think they are living rightly, but are really headed toward death (v. 12).

In this context, we can see that the laughter referred to is not for the believer, but for the unbeliever. The unbeliever, the one who is pursuing a path they think is right, caring not for the things of God, is laughing on the outside and hurting on the inside, “even in laughter the heart may ache.” The end result of a life lived apart from God—though it might appear to be joyful, will tragically end in sorrow. How many men and women have lived their life apart from God, thumbing their nose toward God in this one life they’ve been given, came face to face with their Maker on the day of their death, and went from laughter in life to eternal sorrow in death where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28)?

Our life is precious and we all know that the day of death is coming to us all, it is the great and terrible equalizer. We all will die one day and no one knows when that day will be, but we can all be assured, with utmost certainty, that we will one day die. We must make sure that we are prepared for that day, holding on to Christ, trusting in Him for salvation, making sure our life is lived for Him and not for Satan, sin, or self. Laughter may mask sorrow, and joy might end in grief, but those who live for Christ will have true joy—joy that may be full (cf. John 10:10), and will not only be in the present, but will find its fullest expression in eternity. May we all experience that joy, knowing that our joy enables others to see Christ in us, for His glory and our joy. Amen.