I was recently reading through a book in which the author mentioned that he started reading through the Gospel accounts with the goal of counting the number of questions that Jesus asked. He said that he stopped at somewhere around 300 questions. Think about that for a moment. One of the things Jesus did repeatedly was ask questions. More often than not, He also didn't answer them, but rather allowed the person to work through the answer for themselves. (By the way, I've also read that letting others answer the question for themselves is just about the most effective way for them to not only learn, but actually retain that information.)
Over the past number of years, I have to say that I have noticed myself moving toward asking questions far more than answering questions, or inserting my thoughts into a situation. Sure, I might have some knowledge or even wisdom to apply to a situation, and there may be a time where it is suitable to provide that. However, far more often, it is most beneficial to ask others to work through their thoughts and assumptions on things, to see what they are thinking and, perhaps more importantly, why they are thinking that. That begins to tap into the power of the question.
I realize that this really isn't anything all that profound. Yet, it also goes against so much of our human nature. We want to think that we have something to contribute to the conversation. We have knowledge that fits the situation, and it just seems appropriate to provide it. We have wisdom regarding what is happening, and it just seems appropriate to share it for the benefit of others. Yet, how often have you provided knowledge or wisdom, only to have the other person do something else, regardless of how good or right your knowledge or wisdom was? Just like we think we have something to contribute, we could also benefit from remembering that they also think that, and somewhere in the back of their mind, they may also think that their way of thinking of the situation is superior to ours.
To ask questions means that we put aside our human tendency to insert our thoughts into the situation. That, my friends, is a hard thing to do. It involves a very intentional effort. It means that we do as Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians and consider others as more significant than ourselves. Truthfully, we don't want to do that. That's why the power of the question so often goes untapped.
I admit that I am still learning this. I've been coached by a wonderful man of God, who introduced me to much of the power of the question. I've seen repeatedly in my reading of God's Word how often God asks a question, looking for His people to consider their answer. And I have grown to see that God's Spirit is at work in ways that I can hardly imagine, and sometimes I have to ask before I see how He is bringing this person before me at this time to contribute something that I would not have seen if I hadn't simply asked for their input.
The power of the question. What is keeping you from making use of this powerful thing? How do you see God using questions to grow His people in knowledge, faith, and maturity?
Over the past number of years, I have to say that I have noticed myself moving toward asking questions far more than answering questions, or inserting my thoughts into a situation. Sure, I might have some knowledge or even wisdom to apply to a situation, and there may be a time where it is suitable to provide that. However, far more often, it is most beneficial to ask others to work through their thoughts and assumptions on things, to see what they are thinking and, perhaps more importantly, why they are thinking that. That begins to tap into the power of the question.
I realize that this really isn't anything all that profound. Yet, it also goes against so much of our human nature. We want to think that we have something to contribute to the conversation. We have knowledge that fits the situation, and it just seems appropriate to provide it. We have wisdom regarding what is happening, and it just seems appropriate to share it for the benefit of others. Yet, how often have you provided knowledge or wisdom, only to have the other person do something else, regardless of how good or right your knowledge or wisdom was? Just like we think we have something to contribute, we could also benefit from remembering that they also think that, and somewhere in the back of their mind, they may also think that their way of thinking of the situation is superior to ours.
To ask questions means that we put aside our human tendency to insert our thoughts into the situation. That, my friends, is a hard thing to do. It involves a very intentional effort. It means that we do as Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians and consider others as more significant than ourselves. Truthfully, we don't want to do that. That's why the power of the question so often goes untapped.
I admit that I am still learning this. I've been coached by a wonderful man of God, who introduced me to much of the power of the question. I've seen repeatedly in my reading of God's Word how often God asks a question, looking for His people to consider their answer. And I have grown to see that God's Spirit is at work in ways that I can hardly imagine, and sometimes I have to ask before I see how He is bringing this person before me at this time to contribute something that I would not have seen if I hadn't simply asked for their input.
The power of the question. What is keeping you from making use of this powerful thing? How do you see God using questions to grow His people in knowledge, faith, and maturity?
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