presents
the "Let's Talk About" series
presents
Let's talk about TEASING.
The Bible says: "Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you! Wear them like a necklace; write them deep within your heart." (Proverbs 3:3 NLT)
When people annoy you or make fun of you in playful ways, they are TEASING you.
Has anyone ever teased you about the way you look?
Has anyone ever teased you about the way you think and feel?
Has anyone ever teased you about what you say or do?
Has anyone ever teased you about what you like and don't like?
Whenever someone teases you, you probably feel frustrated, embarrassed, and "put down."
When someone teases you, you may get upset and become angry.
People who tease often enjoy frustrating and embarrassing others.
They enjoy upsetting others.
Thus, you please the person who is teasing you when you become frustrated or upset.
If you want someone to stop teasing you, you must not become frustrated. You must not get embarrassed or become upset.
To make sure that you do not do these things, you must ignore the people who are teasing you. Do not pay attention to what they are saying.
If it is hard for you to ignore them, walk away from them. Do not stay around them while they are teasing you.
It is important to treat other people the way you want to be treated.
If you do not like it when other people tease you, you should not tease other people.
It is best not to talk about things that a person does not want anyone to talk about.
You should also not tell another person's secrets.
It is best not to say embarrassing things about another person in front of others.
It is best not to say anything to people that may hurt them.
A good rule to remember is—
If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
If you do this, you may be sure that you will not hurt other people.
Teasing may hurt someone, so it is best not to do it.
A Bible example of TEASING
God had promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation. But he and his wife Sarah were getting very old and no baby had been born to them.
So Abraham had a baby with Sarah's servant girl, Hagar. He was named Ishmael.
But Ishmael was not the son whom God had promised to Abraham. God's promise was that Abraham would have a son with his wife Sarah. And this miracle baby was born when Abraham was 100 years old! His name was Isaac.
The two boys grew up in the same household, but Ishmael was jealous of his younger half-brother Isaac. The Bible tells us (Galatians 4:29) that Ishmael constantly teased, mocked and laughed at Isaac.
But Isaac, whom the Bible calls "the son of promise", grew up, got married, and had a son named Jacob whose named God changed to "Israel"...and so began the nation God had promised.
