You Were Made for MoreSýnishorn

The Curious

Message

The power of a question.

What’s the most quoted line in the Bible? It’s, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…”

We all know those famous words. But did you know that those words were only given after incessant questioning from someone who wanted to learn from Jesus?

Nicodemus and several other very learned people were sitting around with Jesus talking. Nicodemus complimented Jesus saying, “We know you must be a great teacher.” But his compliment was followed by a question about being born again. And then another question. And then another question. Finally, Jesus gives us the verse that is perhaps the most famous verse in all of the Bible.

For God, so loved the world…

I imagine Jesus could have said this at any point in his ministry, but I believe it’s worth noting that he offered the best Bible verse as a result of really good questions.

The older I get, the more I’m realizing I have to learn more about asking good questions. As a leader, I spend my time considering how I might ask questions that would cause my team members to come up with answers, rather than simply giving out orders. Interestingly, our research of top performers, our unicorns, showed that they are relentlessly focused on asking great questions. They are incessantly focused on the others around them and learning from them. And that makes them at the same time rare and wise.

You can see this example most clearly in the way Jesus taught. Yes, Jesus taught directly and gave commands about God’s law. However, he actually asked more questions than he gave directives. By most scholars' counts, Jesus asked over 330 questions in the Bible. And many times when he was asked a question, he answered the question by asking a question. If that’s not clear enough, the Greek makes it even more resounding. The Greek reads, “Jesus answered their question by asking them, and he asked them a question asking.” In a very efficient, precise language, the New Testament writers were super redundant, perhaps to make sure we all knew that Jesus was the master of asking questions.

Steps

If you want to do greater things with your life, focus on asking greater questions. Start to study those who have asked great questions. Start to think about how to ask questions that will lead others who are following you to really great answers. Start to be incessantly focused on learning from those around you through good questions.

As a tangible action step, do a three day audit. For the next three days, at the end of the evening, run an audit of your conversations during the day. Can you ask more questions than you give answers? It’s harder than you might think. Try for three days, and see if you can get a little better each day.

Ironically, the first question God asks in the Old Testament is in the Garden of Eden just after the fall when He asks, “Where are you?” The first question in the New Testament? It’s from some wise men who asked, “Where is He?” That tells me God wants those who ask good questions. Ask. Seek. Knock.

Prayer

Help me to ask you for help more Lord. Teach me to ask others questions that will bring good answers and greater things for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.