(For people who just ask questions to be “nosy” – this is not meant for you…lol. You need to first learn how to mind your business, then start being genuine! Thank you!)
Ever been in a place where the best way to get people to stop asking you many questions is giving them the one pleasing answer? In life, people always want to know what is going on with others, what plans they have for the future, and most of the times it is not out of a genuine concern – and so we have perfected the pleasing answer, which is a summary of all good answers in one. It is an answer that hardly leads to another question and can be defined as the “right” answer.
Whenever I read the Bible especially when Christ was having a conversation with someone or one of His teaching moments – I love how He always had (and still has) the right answers, not the pleasing answer. He would take His time to answer questions, to the point of using parables to drive the point home. And you know, to the extent that one who would say ‘surely He is the son of God’. The conversations stopped because of belief and not because the answer was imply pleasing.
One of the pleasing answers for me has been “God has been good”, and how many times I hear this or I have had to say it when I am in a place where I am questioning God. I remember when my husband and I were dating and one day he asked me if my faith is always strong, and I told him “well that is my wish, but the reality is nope”. And we ended up having a detailed discussion on why it is important to always be real, to always tell people the truth, especially when it is about your faith. I would have answered him and told “yes, my faith is always strong” but what if he was at a place when his faith was low and he needed someone to tell him it is okay, talk to God about it?
On many occasions I have had the opportunity to talk about my faith because of an answer I gave someone. For example, “Sophie, do you always pray? No, in fact this morning I was so low all I said was the grace and I left the house”. And we would end up talking about how such a moment would affect my faith, how I would get back on track, and what would I tell God when I am going through such a moment. More often than not, the conversation would end at such a high because I might be able to talk about my relationship with God and this would help put things in perspective for me, and that conversation alone would get me back on track.
Now, imagine if I would have a pleasing answer in the same scenario, “Yes I always pray, I can’t go a day without praying, I always yearn to pray”. Would this help that person? Would this reflect my genuine and honest relationship with God? Would God look down on me with pride? How would I have felt earlier, especially knowing that my answer was a lie?
Think about the conversation Jesus had with His disciples in Matthew 16:13: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” The disciples answered and then Jesus asked them in verse 15 “But who do you say I am? Simon Peter answered in verse 16 “You are the Messiah, the son of the living God”. Now, because Simon Peter was honest and He answered what He believed to be true, see the response that He received from Jesus in verse 17 – 19: “Jesus replied, you are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means rock), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven”.
Christ was man but also God, so if Simon Peter simply gave a pleasing answer to the question, imagine what the response would have been, especially since Christ would be able to tell that Simon Peter was lying? Imagine if Simon Peter simply gave the pleasing answer….if he said something like “you are who they say you are, or yes yes I agree with who they say you are”? But look at the depth and the blessing He receives simply because He stood out and gave the right answer – what he believed to be true!
What is your pleasing answer? Is it any way a reflection of the truth, your truth? I am learning that in life being honest and answering questions honestly is my responsibility – one conversation can either build me or destroy it, so I choose to always stand out with the truth!
Think about that one answer that you always give, especially when someone is asking out of a genuine concern? Is it right?
Happy pre-Friday friends!
Be blessed and thanks for reading!
