"Beware of the tendency of asking the way
when you know it perfectly well."
~ Oswald Chambers
I've had this quote in my Bible for years...
I know that he is referring to God...and in that aspect alone this quote is humbling. So often, I find myself praying for God's direction when I know what His Word already says about the issue, and what my actions should be in that situation. Ouch!
"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."
James 4:17
Then I got to thinking about this quote in relation to other people. I'd be one of the first to tell you that I'm a little diplomat...have been since I was little. I have found it a very effective tool to ask for someone's opinion when I already have made my decision. Their opinion is pretty much a moot point.
I've done this for a number of reasons. People like to feel needed...especially those people that think they should be in charge instead of you. If you give them a few moments to give their two cents...and you listen politely and thank them...they feel supportive and positive towards your leadership.
But, that can be empty flattery with the wrong heart.
"Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor, you who practice deceit."
Psalm 52:2
And over the years God's changed my heart...especially the more things I do lead or observe things led. I'm trying to be genuine and loving in my heart. I want people to feel supportive and positive because I am a model of Christ in my conduct.
I do truly care about their impute and information. I may choose not to use it...but I want to truly listen and care with a compassionate heart. It is my own puffed up pride that thinks it's okay to smooth peoples' feathers and disregard their opinions.
3 comments:
It's funny (well, not really...) how often a problem or question comes up, and my first response is to ask someone, find a book on it, post it on a Christian message board, etc., when, if I stop and think about it, I already know what the Bible says to do about it.
And, true, so many of our wrong responses go back to pride.
That’s a great quote and I’m glad you pointed out the two ways it can be taken because I only thought of the first on my own. It’s good to be reminded that we need to check our motives, even when we’re doing a “good” thing. It’s so easy to let pride slip into everything.
Yikes--it's such a huge temptation to ask someone else (whether God or another person), hoping they'll change their mind, when really we're unwilling to let our own hearts be changed.
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