Title
Questioned or Challenged?
Scripture
Jesus answered and said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
(Mark 11:33)
Devotional
Not every question merits an answer. More than often, someone will ask you a false question. Their sentence may have a question mark at the end, but the remark is a challenge not a question. We need not answer challenges; we may not even need to respond to them at all. Proverbs 26:4-5, instructs, "Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, that he not be wise in his own eyes."[1] If a question is confusing, most likely it is purposefully confusing. It need not be answered. If a question is intimidating, it need not be answered immediately. We are to learn to discern legitimate questions from lying questions. We are not to be paranoid or overly suspicious, but optimistically cautious. You may want to follow the example of Jesus; He answered with a question. Remember, not every question deserves an answer, because not every question is truthful.
[1] Proverbs 26:4-5 NAS