There are a lot of things we can learn from another person based on what they are laughing at. Laughter reveals more than just our sense of humor, it reveals our attitudes, our opinions and our values.

‍When I was in college, there was a group of people that were considered to be really cool. They looked like they were always having fun and everyone wanted to be with them.

I wanted to fit in so bad, I really did. To the point that whenever I got the chance to hang out with them I would switch my mind to somehow match theirs.

I agreed to whatever they said and laughed at whatever they laughed at. But it came to a point where I could feel the Holy Spirit confronting me in my heart.

One day they were making fun of another person in a really mean way, and I remember thinking “This is not funny,” and I didn’t join in. I stopped laughing at the same things they laughed at, and eventually, I stopped hanging out with them because I realized their “sense of humor” didn’t really go with my values.

What you laugh at reveals what you value‍

Our values are the core foundation of who we are, they are the base of what we consider important and dictate our actions. That’s why it’s so necessary for us to examine ourselves and evaluate what are the things that we value most.

“Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.” - Psalm 26:2 (NLT)

According to The Rules for Self Discovery by A.W Tozer, the answer to the the following questions reveal our hearts and our values:

1. What we want most;

2. What we think about most;

3. How we use our money;

4. What we do with our leisure time;

5. The company we enjoy;

6. Who and what we admire;

7. What we laugh at.

The last one not only determines what brings us joy, but also how we see the world and what it is that we find funny. Laughter is a wonderful gift from God, but what we choose to laugh at reveals the content of our hearts.

So today I want to encourage you to examine your heart and question yourself. Are you laughing at some things because you consider them funny? Or because you want to fit in?

Are you laughing at circumstances that are not really funny? What does that say about your values and your heart?

‍
If you want to learn more about yourself and your values I encourage you to see the series 7 Rules of Self Discovery and This is VO[US].

‍