It’s easy to become prideful even with just a little knowledge. And it might even feel threatening to our ego when someone questions what we know. But often they’re not challenging us; they’re just trying to understand. And starting with the basics is our way to serve them.
For instance, young kids are known to ask why about nearly everything. And, to be fair, sometimes they ask in a way that comes across as disrespectful. But often the heart of their questioning is to truly understand the world around them.
While we might assume they should know or shouldn’t question, our response to them often exposes the state of our own inner strength. And it’s our insecurities and fears that are likely triggered when we blow up at them. When we’re confident in our position then their questioning is no longer a threat. And we’re free to enter their world and patiently help them wrestle through new realities.
And the same is true in the rest of our life and relationships. All too often we take an honest question as a challenge and a threat, and then blame the other for their disrespect. And while it might be true that their approach could be polished, our reaction says more about our own hearts than theirs.
When we can humble our pride then we can start with the basics in helping them to understand whatever they desire to know. And because our pride is no longer on the line, we no longer have to shame them for what they don’t know or feel the need to prove what we do. Like Christ did for us, we can meet them wherever they’re at and graciously help them to take that next step forward.
In the end, check your pride and don’t assume every question is challenging your worth. Often people are just trying to understand what you know. Practice love by graciously starting with the basics.
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