Proverbs - Joking Can Injure

Proverbs 26:18-19

As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

Our culture enjoys teasing and joking.  Sometimes these can be very funny.  For example:

First Person:  Knock, knock

Second Person:  Who’s there?

First Person:  Control Freak.  Now you say “Control freak who?”

Jokes can really lighten things up and bring joy to our days, but teasing someone else has its inherent dangers.  We are told in this verse that saying something in jest is like a crazy person throwing hot coals, arrows and death.  When a crazy person throws something it could go anywhere.  It could hit something and it might not.  This is how it is with jesting and tricking another person.  It might wound them and it might not.  People come with a lot of baggage and previous wounds.  If our teasing hits them in a tender spot, they will be wounded.  Every time we joke around and then have to tell someone that we were kidding, we risk injuring someone.  Is it worth it?