It is a common courtesy to ask people how they are doing. It’s a quick and easy way to get a conversation started while simultaneously expressing concern for another person. And sometimes, that concern is uncommonly genuine. But, let’s be honest. More often than not, it’s pretty superficial. We use that question to do a quick “check-in” with that person, but inevitably turn our attention back to other issues at hand. It is a rare thing to have someone ask you that question with both the intent of hearing everything you might have to say and the deep desire to help you in whatever way possible, even to the point where they would lay down their life for you (both literally and metaphorically).
This morning I was pondering what a deeply probing question that really is. It’s different from “what is going on?” It doesn’t ask a person to make a list of things that are happening in their life. It is even different from “how are you?” To me, that question addresses the current state of the person being asked the question.
“How are you doing” assumes that the person is actually doing something. It’s like the statement “It is well.” “Well” is an adverb. So, what is “it”? “It” must be an action or process—something that is actually occurring, as opposed to something that is just being.
I’d be willing to bet that God doesn’t get asked this question a whole lot, even superficially. Even if all he did was just generate a list of things that he was up to, how many people would truly and honestly want to know what God is up to, much less engage themselves in his work to the point where they would lay down their life? That, by itself, is a very loaded question with a ton of implications—a question which has the potential to cause a lot of very painful self-examination, but which also has the potential to bring about a mighty change of heart.
Asking God for a list of things that he is doing can be beneficial, but perhaps rephrasing the question would yield a greater outcome. Perhaps it would be better to ask, “In what manner are you acting?” Not only do we need to know what he is doing, but we also need to know his motives, what methods he employs, and the character he possesses while doing what he is doing. This becomes an extremely valuable question to ask once we realize that what God does and how he does it—what anyone does and how they do it—is inextricably tied to the person that he is. As we are given more information about his character and come to know him better, we can contrast what we learn against ourselves and make the changes necessary to conform our character to his.
One absolutely critical take away from this line of reasoning is the realization that our actions should, then, be more and more aligned with his. We should be better able to keep his commands. We should be more obedient to his laws. We should have a better understanding of scripture. We should have a better understanding of prophecy. We should better understand his work. We should be increasingly engaged in his work. Our engagement in his work should become as desirable and as consummate as it is for him. To the degree that that isn’t happening in your life, you either don’t have an accurate understanding of God’s character or you are unwilling to make the changes in your character that would make your character more like his.