Who is the wisest person you know? What attributes stand out that bring you to this conclusion?
One commonly used phrase within the company where I work is, “Don’t try to be the smartest person in the room.” This is meant to temper our pride. Just because someone is smart and has the answers, it doesn’t make them a good team member. It is meant to focus less on “being right” and focus more on listening to others before coming to a conclusion. This leads to better teamwork which increases innovation and job satisfaction.
Back to the questions about the wisest person: The wisest people I know are not those with the best answers, they are the people with the best questions. Albert Einstein once said:
“If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask… for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.”
Note the cover image quoting Luke 2:52 doesn’t say “Jesus became so smart…”, it says he grew in wisdom. This is the same chapter where Jesus was found in the Temple listening to the teachers and asking questions (ref Luke 2:46).
Transformed through prayer.
My prayer life recently has included the following questions and sentiment regarding a job transfer that will involve a move that my wife and I are struggling with:
- God, why are you allowing this to happen? “You know what I want.”
- God, what should we do? Where should we go?
Over time God has revealed that while these questions are fair to ask (as we can ask him anything), my questions were somewhat selfish. He is leading me toward better questions and statements that focus on Him and His will such as:
- God, where do you want me to go?
- God, how can I serve you where you are leading me?
- God, your will, not mine.
- God, thank you for this day, for all you have done, are doing, and will do in my life.
The change in questions and prayers has brought me from a posture of worry to a place of peace and hope. The right questions can lead us closer to understanding our purpose and God’s purpose, and the most important question is related to where we will spend eternity:
What do you believe to be true about Jesus?
But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. (John 20:31)
Wisdom isn’t just about having the right answers—it’s about asking the right questions. When we shift our focus from seeking control to seeking God’s will, we open ourselves to His guidance, peace, and purpose.
What questions are you asking? Are they leading you closer to trust, surrender, and your purpose?