March 04
The Best Question
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV)
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.
Proverbs 28:26 (NAS)
Andy Stanley, Pastor of North Point Community Church near Atlanta, Georgia, has written a book that says he knows the question that trumps any other question. This one question beats them all, and you can ask it about anything in your life—any situation you face, any decision you need to make.
Andy just about guarantees The Best Question will bring you clarity and fresh insight. But sometimes, he says, we don’t want to ask the question, because we already know the answer. We know it, and we don’t like it. So we ask other questions. Questions like, How far can I go? What’s the limit? What can I say and do and still be morally, spiritually, or physically okay? What can I get away with and not get hurt? How much can I get away with and not suffer the consequences? Just how close to the line can I get without causing damage?
But these are the wrong questions. They are probably the ones we’ve asked before … and later regretted because of the bad answers we took from them. And years later, we may find ourselves saying, How could I have been so blind?
These verses in Ephesians reveal the right question to ask, the best question. With this one question, any one of us can address any life situation and get a right answer—like it or not.
It’s simply the best question ever and it is this: “What’s the wise thing for me to do in this situation?” What’s the wise thing for me to do?
We can talk ourselves into almost anything, but this question has a way of exposing our deception. It can foolproof our decisions regarding marriage, finances, relationships and every decision we make. Especially when viewed in light of three things:
My past experience—what happened the last time I did something like this?
My present reality—for example, maybe as a wife and mother of three kids, I shouldn’t seek a second job to earn more money ... right now.
My future hopes and dreams—for my marriage? For my finances? For my children? Quite simply, wrong decisions rob us of our future hopes and dreams.
When we don’t ask this question, when we listen to our hearts alone, we are saying, I know what’s best. I feel this is the right thing. And we get in trouble.
But if asking this question causes discomfort—listen! God may be talking to you. And if you listen … and if you do as God directs … God will become your Heavenly father like you have never know Him before. It will be that good! It will be the best!
Father, lead us to Your best. Give us the guts to ask this question…. Amen.
The Best Question
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV)
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.
Proverbs 28:26 (NAS)
Andy Stanley, Pastor of North Point Community Church near Atlanta, Georgia, has written a book that says he knows the question that trumps any other question. This one question beats them all, and you can ask it about anything in your life—any situation you face, any decision you need to make.
Andy just about guarantees The Best Question will bring you clarity and fresh insight. But sometimes, he says, we don’t want to ask the question, because we already know the answer. We know it, and we don’t like it. So we ask other questions. Questions like, How far can I go? What’s the limit? What can I say and do and still be morally, spiritually, or physically okay? What can I get away with and not get hurt? How much can I get away with and not suffer the consequences? Just how close to the line can I get without causing damage?
But these are the wrong questions. They are probably the ones we’ve asked before … and later regretted because of the bad answers we took from them. And years later, we may find ourselves saying, How could I have been so blind?
These verses in Ephesians reveal the right question to ask, the best question. With this one question, any one of us can address any life situation and get a right answer—like it or not.
It’s simply the best question ever and it is this: “What’s the wise thing for me to do in this situation?” What’s the wise thing for me to do?
We can talk ourselves into almost anything, but this question has a way of exposing our deception. It can foolproof our decisions regarding marriage, finances, relationships and every decision we make. Especially when viewed in light of three things:
My past experience—what happened the last time I did something like this?
My present reality—for example, maybe as a wife and mother of three kids, I shouldn’t seek a second job to earn more money ... right now.
My future hopes and dreams—for my marriage? For my finances? For my children? Quite simply, wrong decisions rob us of our future hopes and dreams.
When we don’t ask this question, when we listen to our hearts alone, we are saying, I know what’s best. I feel this is the right thing. And we get in trouble.
But if asking this question causes discomfort—listen! God may be talking to you. And if you listen … and if you do as God directs … God will become your Heavenly father like you have never know Him before. It will be that good! It will be the best!
Father, lead us to Your best. Give us the guts to ask this question…. Amen.
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