Interesting Questions!

September 1, 2022

Interesting Questions!

I said “Yes!” to something I did not expect this week.  I said “Yes!” when a funeral director asked if I would be interested in helping a family who had no pastor. 

When I went to visit with the funeral director, we both asked lots of questions.  It was important for us to learn about and from one another.  Where are you from?  Why are you here?  What got you into your line of work?  What do you hope to accomplish?  What was the cause of the building fire out back?

There are two things that help make new friends and grow existing relationships.  One is to love people.  The second is ask interesting questions. 

One of my most important tasks when I meet with the family to plan a memorial service is to ask interesting questions.  Their responses will help me to learn about the person whose life we are celebrating. 

Their responses will also help me to share a message that meets the needs of the family and shares the love and hope of our faith in the Lord God.  When I listen well, I show that I care about the other person.

Jesus asked lots of interesting questions.  In the city of Jerusalem, Jesus encounters a man who had been crippled from the time he was born; 38 years!  Jesus takes the initiative to engage the man in conversation. 

I imagine Jesus asks all kinds of questions.  But, the question that really catches our attention is found in John 5:6.  Jesus asks the man; “Do you want to be made well?” 

Jesus already knows the man is crippled.  Jesus already knows the man wants to leave this place where the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed live.  Jesus already knows that man wants to walk.  But, Jesus asks an interesting question so he can learn more about the man and show that He deeply cares for him.

Jesus does not touch the man.  Jesus does not say the words, “Be healed!”  Jesus does not pray over the man.  Instead, Jesus asks interesting questions.  And then, there is healing!

I wonder if there would be more healing, more reconciliation, and more restoration in our relationships with other people if we chose to ask interesting questions rather than make a lot of statements. 

I wonder if our communities and our nation and our world would be more civil, more humane, and more compassionate if we chose to ask interesting questions to show we care. 

I wonder if our families and our schools and our workplaces would be less impatient, less intolerant, and less critical if we chose to ask interesting questions rather than trying to prove we are right.

Jesus asks a very interesting question of a man who had been crippled for 38 years; “Do you want to be made well?”  The question probes beyond the obvious physical need to the way the man problem solves, to the way the man feels about life, to the health of the man’s soul. 

I encourage you to engage a friend or family member with whom there may be more stress and strain than either of you would like.  Engage this person by asking interesting questions rather than making a lot of statements. 

When you ask interesting questions, you may show them that the most important thing is not that you are right (or that you were hurt!) but that you care about them.  Maybe both you and that person will discover something that will bring healing and health and holiness.  When that happens, your hearts will be filled with delight in the Lord.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug

One final thought.  Someone you know needs to hear the message of this post.  Take a moment and invite them to join our blog community.