When I was growing up I had so many questions: I would ask why, what, how, where and when to everything. I drove people crazy and was often told to stop asking questions. I learnt early on that questions frustrated most people, but when my questions were answered it enlarged my understanding and knowledge and improved my execution of the things I learned. I decided to never stop asking questions. The older I get, the harder it gets to keep asking questions.
Whenever I met and spent time with a leader, preacher or pastor, I asked questions. When I read books and listened to podcasts and lectures, I asked questions.
Questions like:
Why do you do what you do, say what you say, and why is how you say what you say so important?
Can you see areas for improvement in my life or ministry? How can I grow in these areas? What could possibly hinder my growth in these areas?
What are you reading? What have you learnt that you can show me? How can I learn more? How can I become better at what I do?
My life was enlarged through people who took time answer these questions and impart into my life.
Many of us want to grow and increase which is a good thing. But what investment are we making?
In Luke 2:52 it says, “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men”
Jesus is the example to all of us, He grew, enlarged and increased!
I had a young man in my youth ministry who learnt the art of asking questions early on. From day one of joining youth, at the age of 12, there was a ‘why?’ for everything. Some questions were annoying and some things I didn’t want to answer. Other things I didn’t have an answer to, which encouraged me all the more to ask questions.
He would ask:
Why did I do what I did? What would/did it achieve? Would I do it again? How can we improve it? Where can we make changes?
I’ve heard it said, ”People who ask the wrong questions get more answers than the ones who don’t ask any.”
He was one of those kids that was running and thinking at 100 miles an hour. He drove people crazy with questions, but was always hungry for more. He never wavered in asking questions and is still asking questions to this day. He told me at 16 that he wanted to run Youth Alive, our overarching State-wide youth ministry organisation. Ambitiously he asked lots of questions and he positioned himself to learn and find the answers to all his questions.
Now Dave Edgar, that curious 12 year old, runs a phenomenal youth ministry in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, is heading up Youth Alive Victoria and is continuing to have influence on this nation and beyond.
I believe the key to growing, increasing and expanding is found in the proceeding verse. In Luke 6:46 it says, “Then, after three days they found Him (Jesus) in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.”
Jesus learnt the art of asking questions, which lead to his growth in stature, wisdom and favour. Asking questions enlarges you.
“Asking the right questions takes as much skill as giving the right answers” Robert Half.
Dave learnt the art of asking questions. Whether they were dumb, annoying or great questions, the answers challenged him and enlarged him.
Leader, I tell you the truth, the greatest thing you can do is sit around some great people, listen, and ask lots questions. Stay hungry, and pursue knowledge and execute wisdom.
Hindsight is a beautiful thing however, if you can learn in advance by asking questions, you win.
I’ve also heard it said, ”He who asks a question remains a fool for 5 minutes. He who does not ask questions remains a fool forever”
Don’t ever stop asking questions!
#asklotsofquestions