The Best Question Ever

I remember reading this book last year (or was it the year before?) Lent by Jan, written by Andy Stanley. It’s a short book, one I skimmed through quickly. But now, in the light of all that’s been happening, I can’t help but refer to it more often than I ever have. “The Best Question Ever” really IS the best question ever.

For the sake of discussion, let me reveal what the question is. (However, will still strongly encourage you to read the book for yourselves, as it explains the question in detail.)

What is the wisest thing for me to do?

Simple enough, yes? And hardly ever applied, I’m sure. In my own life, I have been and am still admittedly quite unwise about a lot of things. But I like that learning to ask myself this puts me in the direct path to seek God. When I pause to ask, “What IS the wisest thing for me to do?” I admit that I don’t know anything, admit that I have no clue, admit that I am ill-prepared and severely incapable of making the right choice. By being honest about this, I am declaring hey, God, I’m dumb and you’re not. So come help me out.

I also like the word “wise” a lot. The dictionary defines it several ways but here’s the bit I like best: responding sensibly or shrewdly to a situation. How many times, even in this past weekend, did I respond sensibly or shrewdly to a situation? Even when on the road, behind the wheel, in my interactions with my family and friends, in my alone time? In how many moments did I choose to do the wise thing (usually the more difficult thing) instead of the easy way out (usually the one I want)? I’m going to venture to guess not too many times.

But here’s the good thing: when we pause to ask God what the wisest thing to do is, He really does tell us. The bible says:

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5 (NIV)

Another version, much longer, also makes the point clear:

If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get His help, and you won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

James 1:5-8 (The Message)

Wow. I like what both verses assure us. That if we ask for wisdom, it will be given. Generously, without finding fault. For us to ask boldly, believingly, without a doubt. And that this can only happen if we pray to God.

How many of us now need that extra jolt of wisdom? How many situations in our lives need us to be wise, sensible and shrewd? I think we’re all going to find that wisdom can never be had enough and that it will always, always be in short supply if we never go to the source.

Whatever situation you find yourself in now maybe making you feel helpless and a little dumb, whether it’s a financial bind, a work crisis, relational discord, family conflict, or other personal issues, if you don’t stop to ask what the wisest thing is for you to do, you’re probably not going to act too wise in that situation. So pause, stop, breathe. It’s ok to take a time out to really sit down about things, think about them and chart a better course of action. Listen to what God has to say. Ask Him for wisdom, which He will give in abundance anyway. Be patient and wait on Him joyfully, don’t allow external forces to dictate what your internals should be like. After all, even if we know for sure that God answers prayers, He never really does in the manner we desire or in the timeframe we expect. But being that His ways are not our ways and that His will is always good, pleasing and perfect anyway, we might as well just relent our will now, give up the struggling, quit the striving and let Him take over the wheel.

Besides, He’ll be more than happy to do the driving. He’s been wanting to for a long time now.