Questions

What does the Bible say about….

Money? Relationships? Sex? Stress? Success? Politics? Entertainment?

I could probably continue the list of questions we ask and easily fill an entire post. I'll admit these are all questions I've asked myself. Sometimes I even start asking questions about why we ask so many questions. As I begin to question the questioning of questioners and the questions inherent is such questioning a question consistently comes to mind. Are we asking the right questions?

Over the last few years I've heard sermons on just about every topic I can imagine. I find that these interrogations of scripture often tend to lead to the same place. We always go looking for advice on what we should do. This is the point where I have to ask, are we asking the right questions? We look for relationship advice, money management tips, ways to deal with stress, even tips for a spicier sex life.

I have to be honest, when I perform these searches, I usually don't find what I'm looking for. Jesus talks about money yes, but His discussions on the topic don't really seem to be about money at all, but use money as a means to point to something else. I would think that a book inspired by God would offer definitive answers for my issues, but so many of them are open ended, or susceptible to multiple interpretations.

Here's where it gets really freaky. Quite often the Bible answers my questions with questions. I ask about how to deal with money and it asks me why I'm worrying about that. I ask for success and it asks me what my definition of success is. I ask what I must do to draw closer to God, and my daily reading takes me to Galatians, and suddenly I'm the one being questioned.

Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"? Galatians 3:1-6

For some reason once we become Christians we are so eager to get to work. God has saved us, now we must make ourselves better! We look to the law found in the Bible for instructions on how to do this and Christ has some questions for us. What are you doing? Did someone mess with your head? You couldn't save yourself, what makes you think you can sanctify yourself? Who do you think you are?

I come to scripture with questions that I hope will bring me benefit, and scripture responds with questions that cut to the core of who I am. I haven't found what I'm looking for, but God has pointed me to where I should have been looking all along.

Here's the funny thing. Now I have more questions, but my questions have changed, and now I'm getting some answers.

Who am I? Someone that is cursed (Galations 3:10)

Is there anything I can do to fix it? No (Galatians 3:11)

Is there any hope?

….yes.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14

All I can say is… Amen.