Sharpen Your Axe

Today’s Passages – Ecclesiastes 9 – 12; Proverbs 27

(Second Milers also read – Luke 9 – 10; Memorize Hebrews 1:8)

“If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.” – (Ecclesiastes 10:10)

I have been enjoying this devotional reading of the Book of Ecclesiastes as there are so many nuggets of truth. I actually had a hard time deciding what to write about this morning. I had considered doing something on Ecclesiastes 9:11, or 10:1; but I beleieve the verse above will be the most helpful for us today.

Solomon says that if a man does not “whet the edge”, he will have to add a little strength in order to be able to accomplish the goal. Whetting (or sharpening) the edge allowed the blade to penetrate deeper into the wood with less strength. It helps accomplish the goal without as much effort. Solomon is using this illustration to teach us about life. At the end of the verse he says that wisdom is profitable to direct. Acquiring wisdom is like sharpening the axe or whetting the edge. It will help you do the job with less difficulty.

God has given us a lot of things to do in life. In order to accomplish the things that the Lord has for us, we will need to acquire some wisdom. Wisdom makes us more proficient and helps us to accomplish the tasks at hand. God says that He will give us the wisdom that we need if we simply ask for it in faith.

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” – (James 1:5)

We can get God’s wisdom from the Word of God; through prayer; and from the counsel of those who are wise.

I do not think that God is minimizing or belittling the value of hard work, either. There are a lot of things that I find myself doing where I am perhaps not as wise as someone else. In these situations I will have to work a little harder than that person, but  I can still accomplish the goal.  However, if I am going to be the best that I can be at all that God has given me to do. I will need to ask for wisdom. I need His wisdom to be a good husband and father. I need wisdom in order to pastor the people of God at the church. I need wisdom for every task that I perform, and so do you. Work hard, but if you want to get the most out of each swing, you will want to sharpen your axe.


Posted in Devotions by with 6 comments.
5 1 vote
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

6 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Annette
Annette
12 years ago

Pastor Erickson. thankyou for sharing words of wisdom from the word of God. what a eye opener, we must not rely on our own ability nor elect. Pastor through your words i am reminded to ask God for wisdom in all areas of life. May God continue to use daily in touching lives through daily devotion. Blessings to you and your family.

Roy jones
Roy jones
7 years ago

Ecc 10:10 was great, I’m new of wisdom as a husband, father, minister and a servant and provider .

Destiny
Destiny
7 years ago

I was studying a book on divine direction and needed some more clarification on Eccl 10:10 so i googled and your page came up. Indeed you have shared more light and i am satisfied. Thank you so much and God bless you and increase you in wisdom for your every task.

Felix Sha'adu
Felix Sha'adu
7 years ago

Pastor, your reflection on wisdom is apt, brief, easy to understand and resourceful! May God open our understanding to continue to benefit from the application of wisdom in our every day life. Weldone pastor!

GRACE
GRACE
4 years ago

THANK YOU SIR. MORE GRACE.

Pastor Barizaa Kagbaranen Bornu
Pastor Barizaa Kagbaranen Bornu
3 years ago

Wonderful.

From my study I found out that the verse is wholistic. The Ax is symbolic of what you do or what you are that you’re slacking off now.

A relationship that has gone blunt can be sharpened
Prayer life need to be sharpened
Attitude needs to be sharpened
Manners needs to be sharpened
Given habit needs to be e sharpened.

Why do I need s sharpen all of the above?
Simply for effectiveness and better functioning.

And wisdom is the oil. You are the Ax. God is the One holding the Ax. The tool against which the Ax will be sharpened is the Word of God.

Also, God allows us go through certain experiences in life to sharpen us too. But it takes wisdom to understand that God is working out something for us.

Praise God.

6
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x