Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless. – Ecclesiastes 7:6

Today's Scripture Reading (February 2, 2026): Ecclesiastes 7

There is an old camp song we used to sing around the fire when I was a teenager. Perhaps you recognize the lyrics (I will let you sing the song to yourself).

            It only takes a spark

            To get a fire going

            And soon all those around

            Can warm up to its glowing.

Is it allowable for me to say that this old Christian Camp song has lied to us? As a veteran of many campfires, I can tell you that a spark is not all you need to get that campfire going. Sometimes, I have to admit that I think it is remarkable that fires are set at all. Maybe that is just proof that I would make a lousy pyromaniac.

If you want to get that campfire going, you start with a framework for the fire. Usually, that would include some logs placed so air can flow freely through the fire. Next, you need some starter material or things that will catch fire easily. The problem with this material is that it burns out quickly, so the idea is that it will catch fire and allow the fire to spread to the logs that will form a more lasting part of the fire. Once all of that has been assembled, then you need the aforementioned spark. You could also use an accelerant like gasoline, but then the fire might quickly get out of control.

The preacher uses a bit of wordplay here. James Moffat, in his translation of the Bible, gets at the wordplay with his phrasing of "Like nettles crackling under the kettles" to replace "Like the crackling of thorns under the pot." The problem with nettles or thorns is that while they burn easily, they also burn quickly. If all you have are thorns, the fire will disappear as fast as the spark allows it to burn.

In the same way, the laughter of fools is without substance. It is a momentary flash that disappears almost as quickly as it appeared. The laughter of fools is misplaced and transitory. It is nothing more than a noise that grabs the person's attention before we realize the substance is missing.

And maybe nothing could be more meaningless than that kind of laughter.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 8