To All The Wrong Questions
In yesterday’s edition of the New York Times in reference to the social and economic shutdown of the country because of the coronavirus, it asked, “When will this end? This is a difficult question, because a lot depends on how well the virus is contained. A better question might be: ‘How will we know when to reopen the country?’”
It reminded me of a key leadership point. Having all the right answers is relatively unimportant if those answers are to the wrong questions. In leadership, having all the answers is not nearly as important as knowing the right questions to ask and how to find the answers to those questions.
Leadership Truth: Finding the right questions is paramount to discovering the right answers.
When perplexing times, situations, and circumstances create a dilemma in lack of productivity, negative interpersonal relations, general despair, or a scarcity for answers and resolution, finding the right questions is paramount to discovering the right answers. The right answers are laying right beside the right questions and the right questions are flagged for the observant leader as clearly as road signs on a highway.
If being the “answer man” is the only reason someone is the leader, that leader isn’t really needed. Information is now only a click away for anyone wanting to find it on the Internet, that Information Superhighway. Whether that information is accurate is something the receiver is responsible to determine. A couple of powerful reasons for someone being the leader is their ability to ask the right questions and knowing how to find the best answers. If that person can do that through a team of people, that person is the leader regardless of who oversees the group.
Since this is near the celebration time of the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, it can serve as an introduction to a thought. God had a design for his chosen people, the Children of Israel, the descendants of Abraham. During the many challenges faced from Abraham to Christ, God was faithfully there and caring for his people. The people were starving, and he allowed them to go to Egypt for sustenance and posterity. The group grew from 70 souls to a large number. Now that number is debatable and hinges on an interpretation of a Hebrew word translated into English as thousand, but in usage could also mean troop or leader depending upon its context. The interpretation of how many left Egypt following Passover ranges from as few as 5,500 to over 2 million. Whatever the actual number the circumstances and events are not debatable. Once the Israelites were on their journey to a new land, they grew thirsty, then hungry, then listless, seeking answers to the wrong questions, ultimately becoming rebellious and those over the age of 20 at the time of departure dying in the wilderness. Through an ornate structure via the tribe of Levi and the temple, God preserves a pathway for humanity to be in relationship with him. Then comes Christ who opens the way, not only for the Israelite but for all the peoples of the earth.
Jesus Christ is the Greatest Leader to ever live. He is our role model and asked all the right questions. Chief among those questions were his purpose for being here and what his Father would have him to do? Likewise, for us, what questions will we as leaders be asking?
Will we be asking, “When will it all end?” Perhaps some will be asking, “Lord, when will you deliver us from this turmoil, suffering and pain?” Many will ask, “Where are you Lord? I’m hurting. Relieve my pain. Don’t you care for me anymore?” There is a man to whom I minister who is caught up in the charismatic movement and whose faith, or profession thereof, fluctuates daily as his circumstances change in reference to his perceived blessing or cursing for the moment. He has even complained before, “The Lord has forgotten me. My faith in him is shaken. What am I to do?” The foolishness and implication in all those questions and statements is the idolatry of “Me”. “When will it all end?” The implication is when will all this negativity end for ME? I want good things for ME.
Better questions are, “Why am I here?”, “Who or what created me and for what purpose?”, “I know whoever created me is God, but what would God have me to do now and in the future?”, “Will God forgive me for my past failures wherein I have broken his law and are called sins?” “Is God seeking to include me in a personal relationship with him?” Answers to all these questions are revealed most perfectly by God through Jesus Christ and the written Word we call the Bible. In a concise way, those questions are answered in the gospel and Great Commission. In a general way, God’s grace has preserved in the heart of the untrained sinner a desire to know God and his purpose for them. Romans.
Perhaps it is justifiable to complain, “All that is understood. The Vision of a Vibrant 21st Century Church and an eternity with our King forever is clearly understood. But how am I to lead in the present moment?”
The key is to shift the focus from ME to HIM. Instead of asking “What am I to do?”, ask, “What would God desire me to do?” Instead of asking, “When will God deliver me from this mess?”, ask, “What and how does God want me to lead through this mess?” Instead of asking, “What happened to all the resources we had?”, ask, “What new resources has God provided in this place?”
God can do all things, whatsoever he chooses to do. The question is, “What will he have me do now and forever?” Not with exegetical precision, nor defending each context, the following verses attest to God’s ability to finish what he has begun. There are many others. Perhaps you would like to find those verses in this turbulent time to calm the winds and waves of your leadership sphere?
Romans 14:4, KJV
Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Philippians 3:21, KJV
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
2 Timothy 1:12, KJV
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Hebrews 2:18, KJV
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Hebrews 7:25, KJV
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Romans 8:31-39, NIV
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What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
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He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
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Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
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Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
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Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
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As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
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No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
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For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
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neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
