Urgent Questions

Until I heard someone say it recently, it never occurred to me just how powerful asking questions is in pursuit of that elusive virtue of humility.

Answers make me feel proud. They may also make me look proud, but that may be a less important matter. I wonder if it's just me, or if you have the same experience.

Questions make me feel curious, sometimes reminding me that I can be a student of any teacher. They make me look humble, but that's a far less important matter. Again... just me?

So if having answers leads to pride (not just one of the seven deadly sins, but many say the source of all sins) and if asking questions fuels humility (perhaps the core cardinal virtue), why do we--leaders, church folks, artists--choose to be on the answer side of things?

Why do I?

Honestly, I'm not sure I am smart enough to answer that question. But I do know that when I was reading through the book Acts this verse just seemed to rise up and call for my attention:

"...And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.” (8:31)

This is the Ethiopian eunuch asking.

In case it's been a while since you interacted with this text, can I just remind you (and me!) that this man with dark skin from east Africa was a high-ranking official. He was used to being the one with the answers.

But when he encountered the things of God, he needed help.

So he asked.

Better yet, he urged.

When is the last time you urged someone to help?

And what does that say about where you stand in the fight against pride that, like all sin, "easily entangles" us? (Heb 12:1-2)

I'm thinking a good bit these days about who I can surround myself with so I can urge them to help me with Spirit-things. I'm also learning to think that the people already surrounding me can probably help even more than I know with Spirit-things.

I'm fascinated to know what you are thinking. Could you leave a comment or shoot me a message?