I have responded to this ‘question’ before but the question of questions keeps arising. WHY do I ask so many questions? Actually, I think knowing how to ask questions and to build on the answer is one of the more important skills to learn. Also, it has been my mode of teaching and there are 3 primary reasons; tp demonstrate:. 1- the value of questions and how and when to ask, 2- the ‘how’ of finding answers, and 3- to promote the efficacy of ownership of the answer.
Quite honestly, I wonder if children (who have a wonderful curiosity and can ask the most penetrating questions) lose their ability to ask questions? Is it the fault of our education system which seems more intent on providing their answers than helping students discover their who/what/why/when of their answers. Mistakes are never failures… they are simply the wrong path. To me, the critical skill education should be imparting for/in children is the ability to ask questions, not harassing them for asking questions. But if the school system IS doing this, then what happens at home? Are children encouraged to always ask questions… or put down because they do?
Personally, I’ve never met a question I didn’t like. Which does not mean that I have always liked the answer I discover. Truly, that has nothing to do with it. Answers can expand, give further clarity and understanding… that’s part of the ‘fun’ and annoyance of answers. The question may remain the same but our understanding of an answer can grow. Also, in my world, questions produce… more questions. And nowhere in the Bible do I see that we only can ask one question or that questions are forbidden.
Actually, questions are encouraged…
“Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7, AMP)
See. Questions are the impetus to ‘keep on asking, seeking, knocking’. They always lead us to answers (regardless of our delight) – they never say that the question is too hard or irrelevant… keep on… And there are many examples of questions being asked and answered in scripture. One of the best examples is James 2:14-26. Another example is that we are told to study (2 Timothy 2:15) and if we are to study, then questions automatically arise… all the who, what, when, why, emerge as we study to understand.
Questions truly are our tools to grow and discover, become and act with wisdom and so much more. Questions are never idle… they seek to know. And when we truly know, then we are on our way to understand (at least on some level since I believe we are always refining and expanding our knowing) … and if we understand then we can apply the learning. It is in our application that we see our ownership of answers.
Perhaps the question is… how can we not ask questions? Remember… there’s no unimportant question.
