HOW DO WE ANSWER?

Most of us are familiar with the story the beheading of John. Herod was celebrating his birthday and the daughter of Herodias came in and danced for him. As a result, he promised her whatever she wanted. So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!” (Mark 6:24). Many sermons have been preached on Herod’s rash vow and on the evils of dancing as shown by the daughter of Herodias. I would like to take the question the girl asked her mother and the answer given and make some practical applications for us.

Young people like to ask questions. The harder the question is to answer, the better they like it. Just as the daughter of Herodias wanted to know from her mother what to ask for, our young people are asking, “What shall I ask of life?” This question is being asked of parents, preachers, elders, and teachers. How do we answer such questions? Are we prepared to answer them? The answer Herodias gave was in keeping with the hatred she had in her heart. The answer we give will be likewise, in keeping with what is in our hearts.

Do we answer by saying, “Be a social success”? Do not many parents push their children into things for the sole purpose of wanting them to climb the ladder of social prominence? We allow, and even encourage, them to participate in activities they should not because we want them to be accepted and popular.

Do we answer by saying, “I want you to be rich?” There is no wrong in preparation for a useful job in life. However, we must not leave the impression that the chief aim of life is to make money. We may not tell them in words that material things are the most important things in life, but when we seek material things first and the kingdom of God last, they know what we are telling them.

Do we answer by saying, “Obtain a secular education”? Our young people know when we think that math, science, and other such subjects are more important than Bible knowledge. Do we see that they have their school lessons, but never see that they prepare their Bible lessons? Do we encourage them to stay home on Wednesday night and study their school lessons instead of seeing that they prepare and attend Bible classes? They know what this answer means.

Do we answer by saying, “Ask of life that you may be a Christian first, second, and last? Ask of life that you may be a Christian in the Bible sense of the word, not in its watered-down meaning of our day. Ask for the opportunities to serve and not to be served. Ask of life the chance to make the world a little better place to live in because you are passing through.”

“(B)rought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother” (Mark 6:28). Picture the scene of this damsel coming to her mother and saying, “Here is what you wanted most of all.” Some day our children will come back to us with their lives saying, “This is what you wanted.” Will they come back to us with lives that have been a blessing? Will they come back to us with lives that are full of the satisfaction that can only come from real Christian living? Will they bring back to us a life that is materialistic and void of faith in God? How we answer their questions will determine what they bring back.
--Lamar