The art of answering must come with the wisdom in answering. Peter urges, “Always be prepared to give an answer.” (1 Peter 3:15) The preparation for ministry prepares pastors to answer. But how? The purpose in answering and the how of answering must be with wisdom. People want answers, like those Levites who pestered John the Baptist. “Give us an answer.” (John 1:21)
Much wisdom is provided in Proverbs 15 and 16. Consider the wisdom of Proverbs. It speaks of a gentle answer that commends knowledge spoken by a tongue that brings healing while spreading knowledge. (Proverbs 15:1,2,4,7) The writer speaks of the answer as counsel which gives joy to the speaker and is timely for the recipient. (vs. 24) The answer is to come from a heart of righteousness that carefully weighs the answer. (vs.28)
Wisdom comes from the fear of the Lord and the humility of the answerer. (v.32) The answer of the tongue finds its source in the Lord and will accomplish its goal through love and faithfulness that has been atoned for through the fear of the Lord. (16:1,6) The lips will be honest, and wisdom will appease because it is given in with a lowly spirit and will pleasantly provide the answer being guided by a heart of wisdom. (16:13,14,19,21) The purpose will be instruction given with words that are as sweet as a honeycomb and will being healing. (16:23,24)
The answer must address the issues of the heart and the soul while at the same time addressing the mind with wisdom from the Lord. The responder to the question must come with purity of heart and the wisdom of God. Gentleness precludes argument, challenge, judgment. Our motives must be beyond self-promotion, or the exhibition of superior knowledge. Humility is not easily achieved by those who have had the opportunity of education in the competitive silo of academia.
The pursuit of understanding before answering is explorative, tentative, gentle, and compassionate. Only when the questioner sees our understanding as adequate will our answer by received with reception and understanding. The door to another’s heart is closed by harsh probing, legalistic judging, crush of condemnation. The Jews were “astonished by his answers” (Luke 20:26). If we speak out of love, with the wisdom of God our answers will affect the healing God desires in the seeking soul. And we will know the joy of watching God’s healing in the lives of others. What a joy that is!
