Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!”
Proverbs 26:18-19 NKJV
This proverb gets my attention because it is so prevalent. Obviously, when this kind of joking takes place the very real consequences are not considered.
When I deceive someone else - tell them something that isn’t true - and then just try to wipe it away by saying, “Just kidding!”, I damage my own integrity. I become a person that others can’t trust. “Is he serious or is he just kidding? We can never tell.”
Of course, sometimes it is a last ditch effort. Someone can really be intending to deceive. Only when they get caught they say, “Just kidding!”
Don’t treat your credibility so lightly.
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