Two Dangerous Questions: #2D

There’s a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for wisdom.* He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, “O great Socrates, I come to you for wisdom.”

Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one. He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into water. Then he asked, “What do you want?” “Wisdom, O wise Socrates,” said the young man with a smile.

Socrates put his strong hands on the man’s shoulders and pushed him under water. Thirty seconds later Socrates let him up. “What do you want?” he asked again.

“Wisdom,” the young man sputtered, “O great and wise Socrates.”

Socrates crunched him under again. Thirty seconds passed. Thirty-five. Socrates let him up. The man was gasping. “What do you want, young man?”

Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, “Wisdom, O wise and wonderful…”

Socrates jammed him under once again. Forty seconds passed. Fifty. “What do you want?”

“Air!” the young man screeched. “I need air!”

“When you want wisdom as you have just wanted air, then you will have wisdom.”

After you finish your Bible reading, ask God this question: “What do you want me to do today?” The answer may surprise you and bless others and yourself.

Prayer
Like Socrates’ student, sometimes when you ask God the dangerous question He tells you to pray. Not long ago I read Luke 23:26-43 about Jesus’ crucifixion. As the Lord walked to His death, Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry the cross because Jesus was too weak. Despite His own suffering, the Lord comforted His women followers who were crying uncontrollably. “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children [because of coming events].”

When I finished reading I asked the dangerous question, and the Lord reminded me that a friend had just lost two family members. I knew I was not only supposed to pray for them, but write a note of condolence. I did both and received a gracious reply thanking me for my words of encouragement.

Direction
At other times, like Socrates’ reply, God will give you guidance when you ask the dangerous question. Recently, at the start of my Quiet Time, I wrote in my journal, “Lord, please give me an idea for the next blog series.” I went on to read Luke 22:39-46 about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. One phrase in the passage jumped out at me: “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly …” (Luke 22:44a). When I asked God the dangerous question, He reminded me of that phrase and I knew that my next blog series would be about “Being in Anguish.”

This is the final post in the series “Two Dangerous Questions.” I urge you to implement this practice into your devotional life. Begin by asking God, “What do You want to tell me today?” After reading, ask God, “What do you want me to do today?” The answers will revitalize your walk with Christ.

* M. Littleton, Moody Monthly, June 1989, p. 29.

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