Questions, Questions and More Questions

Don’t you just love it when someone asks you a question? I’ll give you an example. At the check- out they inevitably ask, “Did you find everything you were looking for today?” MMMM, let me think, no, I couldn’t find my wife! The clerk didn’t laugh. Then just the other day someone asked me, “What do you think?”  If it's a simple question, five seconds and you're done. But if it is something with significant depth, you can possibly answer one of two ways.  The first one is to say, “Well, . . .” and then you go on and on about what you think about a certain issue. But remember what they may really want is to tell you what they think. Answering a question like this is all well and good if you know for sure the person really wants to know what your opinion. 

The second way to answer a similar question is to do what a good counselor would do.  The counselor would just say, “Well, what do you think?” Done this many times and lived to tell. Thank you - Counselling 101. I have found this works best with most people. Yes, they appreciate your view but in the final analysis, some just want to voice their own opinions and have someone listen, and agree with them. And that is decent as well. It gives people a voice and gives you opportunity to listen. As my mother used to say, “You learn more when you keep your mouth closed and your ears open”.

If you’re wondering why I am asking, it’s because Jesus once asked a very specific question in Matt 16. He began by casually asked all the disciples, “Who do people say I am?” Again, a five second answer. It's interesting their answers to that one as you can read later on your own. But then Jesus got very pointed about the question. He turned to Peter and said, “And who do you say that I am?” Every person who has ever lived will have to answer that question. There is no getting away from it. Peter answered with words from heaven. He said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” One day, Jesus will ask you. What will you say?

Something to think about

Rob