Pastor Tom Basson from Ehills church started a series on April 11, 2026 and I thought I would share the lessons in a series with a little Leadership spin on it.
There is a quiet but powerful shift that transforms how we lead, how we relate, and how we grow: choosing curiosity over judgment.
Often attributed to Walt Whitman, the phrase “Be curious, not judgmental” is more than a poetic idea, it is a leadership discipline, a spiritual posture, and a pathway to deeper connection.
Curiosity doesn’t just tolerate differences. It stretches us, it invites us to lean in and teaches us to listen, to learn, and to truly see others.
Judgment, on the other hand, does the opposite. It builds walls, creates distance and closes the mind before understanding even has a chance.
Curiosity is the mark of wisdom. Scripture reminds us that wisdom is not passive, it is pursued:
“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”
Proverbs 18:15 (ESV) A wise leader, a wise person, is not one who assumes they already know, but one who is actively seeking to understand.
Curiosity asks:
- What am I missing here?
- What can I learn from this person?
- What is beneath the surface of this situation?
It slows us down long enough to replace assumptions with insight and in leadership, this is everything because people don’t grow where they feel judged. They grow where they feel understood.
Judgment limits what love can build. Jesus gives a direct and sobering warning:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1–2 (NIV)
Judgment is not just about others, it shapes us. It conditions how we see the world:
- It reduces people to moments instead of seeing their full story
- It replaces empathy with assumption
- It blocks connection before it begins
And often, judgment feels like control, but it is actually limitation.
It limits what we can receive, what we can build and how deeply we can love. Knowledge without love misses the point. There is a subtle danger in “knowing.” We can be informed, experienced, even right and still miss the heart of God.
“We know that ‘We all possess knowledge.’ But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”
1 Corinthians 8:1 (NIV)
The Message version brings this into even sharper focus:
“We all know something. We all have knowledge. Knowledge makes us feel important. But love strengthens the church… Real knowledge isn’t that we know God, but that he knows us.”
1 Corinthians 8:1–3 (MSG)
Curiosity, when rooted in love, keeps knowledge humble. It reminds us:
- It’s not about being right—it’s about being relational
- It’s not about proving a point—it’s about building a person
- It’s not about elevation—it’s about connection
Because love doesn’t need to win an argument. Love seeks to understand. This is where curiosity becomes deeply spiritual. Instead of reacting quickly or judging prematurely, curiosity pauses and asks “What might God be doing through this?” Through this person, this tension, this unexpected situation? Being curious changes everything.
It shifts us from:
- Reaction → Reflection
- Assumption → Awareness
- Control → Trust
Because sometimes what we are quick to judge… is actually where God is working the most. Curiosity opens us to possibility, judgment shuts the door before we even see it.
The Leadership Shift: From Judgment to Curiosity
In your work, your relationships, your calling, this shift matters.
When you choose curiosity:
- You create environments where people feel safe to grow
- You build trust instead of tension
- You expand your own perspective and capacity
When you choose judgment:
- You create fear and defensiveness
- You limit collaboration and creativity
- You miss the deeper story unfolding in front of you
Curiosity is not weakness, it is strength under control. It is wisdom in motion and love in practice.
The next time you feel yourself forming a quick opinion… pause.
Replace “Why would they do that?” with “Help me understand what led to that.”
Replace “That doesn’t make sense.” with “What might I be missing?”
And most importantly, ask, “God, what might You be doing through this?”
When you lead with curiosity, you make room for growth, for grace, and for God to move. Curiosity doesn’t just change how you see others, it transforms how you lead, how you love, and how you live.