Are you bored?
Curiosity.
It’s a word that is not used in the Bible.
Are you curious why I am talking about curiosity?
Curiosity means you are not sure you understand something. It means you desire to know more. It means you will expend effort to fulfill that desire. Curiosity is humble, inquisitive, exploratory, teachable.
The opposite of curiosity is a closed heart, closed ears, a haughty spirit. Boredom. Lack of curiosity is the outworking of pride; it says we know all that we need to know. It is like being intellectually and relationaly dead. Have you talked to a know-it-all lately? If so, you have seen this in action. The conversation feels like being told “I don’t need you, but you might need me.” Yuck! It’s ugly, isn’t it?
1 Peter 5:5 says, “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another”. Put away pride in your fellowship with other believers. Assume you don’t know it all. Assume you can learn something from anyone. Embrace the humility that says God can work on you and through you in your relationships with absolutely anyone. I mean having a disciple’s heart that seeks wisdom. Ah, Wisdom, the crown jewel of Proverbs.
Wisdom is not the same as knowledge or intelligence. Wisdom is knowledge applied to real life; wisdom is skillful living. We all need help to see how the word of God connects to our situations, feelings, and needs. So often that help comes from our brothers and sisters of all ages as “iron sharpens iron” (Prov. 27:17). When I invite fellow believers to look at my life with me, they think of verses that hadn’t crossed my mind. Their different perspectives on my situations bring me clarity. And my friends get “sharpened” as they think through a situation that is not theirs.
Consider what a charming trait curiosity is! Curiosity is such an up-building and endearing manifestation of humility. Think of some of your favorite people to talk to, the ones you go to when you have a problem or want to go deeper than chit-chat. Do you see this trait in them?
Try putting on curiosity this week. Ask people to elaborate on statements. Ask follow-up questions. Read body language. Try to understand what people are saying. Why did they pause before they made that statement? Why did they use that choice of words? What are they NOT saying? I love how it promotes empathy, gives the other person room to talk, builds connections. Growth happens when Christians do life together.
This practice embodies what James says: “…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak… (James 1:19)”. Curiosity the way I mean it looks a lot like love – it is patient, kind; it does not envy, it is not boastful, is not arrogant (1 Cor 13:4).
You need this in your inter-generational relationships (people ±10 years from your age). Most of us have these relationships. For our health and growth we all need them.
You younger people need it as you listen to your parents, church leaders, teachers, elders. Do you want to make simple mistakes that could be easily prevented? Do you want to waste years of your life misunderstanding things? Do you want to develop at the same rate as your classmates when you could have more understanding than people twice your age (Psalm 119:100)?
You older saints need it as you talk to Generation Z and Millennials. Maybe all that young person will teach you today is something about your computer! But the neat thing about even the most utilitarian interactions is the way they build mutual respect and foster listening relationships. Ask them questions, draw out their trials, and practice helping them think through things from a wise biblical perspective.
This is golden. But it doesn’t end with our human relationships. Come to God with the humility of curiosity!
As you read the Bible, ask questions of the text, and then hunt down the answers. Believe Paul’s promise to Timothy when he says, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything” (2 Tim 2:7, ESV). When you find a question you can’t answer, come with curiosity to a friend or small group leader or elder or pastor. O friend, you will be built up! You will grow in wisdom!
Try embracing the humility of curiosity this week. I’m curious to hear what you discover!
Blessings,
Pastor Jeremy Two
It’s a word that is not used in the Bible.
Are you curious why I am talking about curiosity?
Curiosity means you are not sure you understand something. It means you desire to know more. It means you will expend effort to fulfill that desire. Curiosity is humble, inquisitive, exploratory, teachable.
The opposite of curiosity is a closed heart, closed ears, a haughty spirit. Boredom. Lack of curiosity is the outworking of pride; it says we know all that we need to know. It is like being intellectually and relationaly dead. Have you talked to a know-it-all lately? If so, you have seen this in action. The conversation feels like being told “I don’t need you, but you might need me.” Yuck! It’s ugly, isn’t it?
1 Peter 5:5 says, “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another”. Put away pride in your fellowship with other believers. Assume you don’t know it all. Assume you can learn something from anyone. Embrace the humility that says God can work on you and through you in your relationships with absolutely anyone. I mean having a disciple’s heart that seeks wisdom. Ah, Wisdom, the crown jewel of Proverbs.
Wisdom is not the same as knowledge or intelligence. Wisdom is knowledge applied to real life; wisdom is skillful living. We all need help to see how the word of God connects to our situations, feelings, and needs. So often that help comes from our brothers and sisters of all ages as “iron sharpens iron” (Prov. 27:17). When I invite fellow believers to look at my life with me, they think of verses that hadn’t crossed my mind. Their different perspectives on my situations bring me clarity. And my friends get “sharpened” as they think through a situation that is not theirs.
Consider what a charming trait curiosity is! Curiosity is such an up-building and endearing manifestation of humility. Think of some of your favorite people to talk to, the ones you go to when you have a problem or want to go deeper than chit-chat. Do you see this trait in them?
Try putting on curiosity this week. Ask people to elaborate on statements. Ask follow-up questions. Read body language. Try to understand what people are saying. Why did they pause before they made that statement? Why did they use that choice of words? What are they NOT saying? I love how it promotes empathy, gives the other person room to talk, builds connections. Growth happens when Christians do life together.
This practice embodies what James says: “…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak… (James 1:19)”. Curiosity the way I mean it looks a lot like love – it is patient, kind; it does not envy, it is not boastful, is not arrogant (1 Cor 13:4).
You need this in your inter-generational relationships (people ±10 years from your age). Most of us have these relationships. For our health and growth we all need them.
You younger people need it as you listen to your parents, church leaders, teachers, elders. Do you want to make simple mistakes that could be easily prevented? Do you want to waste years of your life misunderstanding things? Do you want to develop at the same rate as your classmates when you could have more understanding than people twice your age (Psalm 119:100)?
You older saints need it as you talk to Generation Z and Millennials. Maybe all that young person will teach you today is something about your computer! But the neat thing about even the most utilitarian interactions is the way they build mutual respect and foster listening relationships. Ask them questions, draw out their trials, and practice helping them think through things from a wise biblical perspective.
This is golden. But it doesn’t end with our human relationships. Come to God with the humility of curiosity!
As you read the Bible, ask questions of the text, and then hunt down the answers. Believe Paul’s promise to Timothy when he says, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything” (2 Tim 2:7, ESV). When you find a question you can’t answer, come with curiosity to a friend or small group leader or elder or pastor. O friend, you will be built up! You will grow in wisdom!
Try embracing the humility of curiosity this week. I’m curious to hear what you discover!
Blessings,
Pastor Jeremy Two
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November 11th, 2023
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October 28th, 2023
Pray with Us About Summit Henderson
October 22nd, 2023
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