Curiosity

I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself." And behold, it too was futility. (Ecclesiastes 2:1 NAS)

When I was a young Christian in my teens, I set upon myself an unusual quest to know, understand, and discover what it was like to face the problems other people were facing. I wanted to experience what they were experiencing so as to be in a position to help them spiritually. While the idea sounded noble, I made the mistake of placing myself at risk of testing God’s patience. I mingled with people who led a life of wanton pleasure for a little while to experience the ‘thrills’ of this world, only to realize the emptiness within me and the futility of such pursuit.

The author of the Book of Ecclesiastes described his discovery of living a life of pleasure that it was vanity and striving after wind (Ecclesiastes 2:1, 10-11). James in his epistle warned us of the danger of worldly pursuit living luxuriously on the earth and leading a life of wanton pleasure. He cautioned that such a lifestyle is equivalent to fattening our own hearts for the day of slaughter (James 5:5).

No doubt, curiosity is not something we can avoid, and to want to find out more about something is nothing wrong. When the apostle Paul spoke to the people of Athens about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject” (Acts 17:32). It was curiosity that led to the opportunity for Paul to share the gospel. Yet we must be cautious not to be nosy or inquisitive in wanting to know or try out things, otherwise we might get our fingers burned.

Are we curious to find or try out things? If we are, let us do so with caution. Not all mysteries in life are likely to be understandable while we are still here on earth. For who can discover the depths of God and the limits of the Almighty? Such mysteries are high as the heavens and deeper than the depths below (Job 11:7-8). To the world and to those who are perishing, the word of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). This then is how we ought to regard ourselves—as servants of Christ entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed through the understanding of His word and the gospel  (1 Corinthians 4:1). 

As stewards of God’s mysteries, are we revealing Christ in us to the world? Are our actions and behavior creating curiosity among the unsaved to want to know more about our faith?

Guide us dear Lord as we seek to know more of You and Your mysteries. Keep our paths straight Lord that we may not get sidetracked to become nosy or inquisitive. Mold us to become more and more like You Lord that others who see us may desire to know You and the message of the cross.