No Question About It

Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her.

-- 1 Kings 10:3

You've got questions. We've got answers.

That's was the familiar catch-phrase of Radio Shack--for years the place to go if you had questions about consumer electronics. Whether you needed help with fixing a wire on your stereo or buying your first personal computer, "The Shack" was your one-stop shop. You could even get advice about remote control race cars, CB radios and TV antennae installations.

How times have changed. These days, Google is the online resource for questions about just about anything. Forbes.com reports that the popular website processes over 3.5 billion search queries each day! And while going to Google and its competitors is fine for some mundane questions, going to God for guidance--particularly concerning the critical issues of life--is not only wise, it's essential for Christ-followers.

Your choice of career is a good example. In other words: What should you do when you grow up?

God guides us here in several ways. First, we need to look at the gifts and talents he's given us. For example, the ability to make friends and persuade others could mean success in sales and marketing. A love of nature could lead to a career as a scientist or veterinarian. And a natural affinity for mathematics could mean hefty paychecks as an engineer or software designer. But whatever job you take--no matter how big or how small--the question to ask is whether or not it honors God. As the Apostle Paul wrote in the third chapter of Colossians: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Other life-changing questions involve marriage. Specifically, should you get married? And if so, to whom? On the first point, either choice is acceptable. Paul advocated the single life for some Christ-followers. But for others--depending on their circumstances--marriage was the best option. Meanwhile, the standard for choosing the right mate is more clear-cut: The lucky guy (or gal) should be a committed follower of Jesus Christ.

That's Biblical guidance that can save you years of pain, heartache and regret. And the saying is corny but true: The couple that prays together, stays together. Or as God warns us through the Book of 2 Corinthians, we shouldn't be yoked to unbelievers. It's true that the daily example of a Christ-follower can be a positive witness to his or her unbelieving spouse. But in many cases, differing spiritual beliefs lead only to frustration, confusion and conflict.

Whether it's the big questions in life or the seemingly insignificant ones, you can seek God's will through prayer, Scripture and advice from trusted believers. We worship a God who calls us his sons and daughters. And like the loving parent that he is, he always wants to hear questions from his children.

"We are certain that God will hear our prayers when we ask for what pleases him," we read in 1 John. "And if we know that God listens when we pray, we are sure that our prayers have already been answered."