Sharpen that Axe

Ecclesiastes 10:10 ~ "If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed."

There is an old parable that talks of two wood-cutters, each of them working hard throughout the day. One would work right through lunch and the other disappeared at lunch and then returned a half-hour later. The second man, having lost time to the first, still out cut his friend and delivered more wood to the market. One afternoon, when they had finished for the day, the first man finally asked the second, "How is it that you take a lunch and I cut through the day and you still outdo me?" The second man glanced at the first, "It's simple," he said. "At lunch time, I sharpen my axe."

How many of God's people, today, are working hard but with a dull edge? There is a maximum effort being offered but minimal results are found. Today, my friends, I want to encourage you to sharpen that axe.

It begins by recognizing that the iron is dull.

The edge of a blade is removed from two things--overuse or neglect. Many an axe, hanging neglected in a barn will no longer have an edge that is honed to the purpose for which it was created. Others, having seen much activity, will dull and become of little use even in the mightiest of hands. Either is detrimental and both must be avoided.

Neglect of your spiritual life can become a disastrous calamity when the time to work is at hand. Hebrews 5:11 states, "About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing." How difficult it must have been to try an instruct the church when they had become dull of hearing. He would go on to say that they needed milk, not solid food, for they had not trained themselves through constant use (see Hebrews 5:12-14). Paul warned Timothy against this type of neglect in 1 Timothy 4:14, "Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you."

Overwork can also become the means by which you will blunt your edge. Hard work is commended in Scriptures, and it is a noble quality of life to pursue it with a diligent determination that you should glorify God. It is mentioned even from the beginning that mankind was created to work (see Genesis 2:15) Yet, in the hard-pressed ministry of the Lord Jesus, he cared for His disciples that that take time to recover themselves from their labors. Mark 6:31 says, "And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat." The Lord worked into His commandments a day of rest (see Exodus 20:8-11). 

So... have you blunted the edge of your axe? Has the honed edge of your life become dull so that you do not function to the capacity that God is glorified and you find delight in the work? If either from neglect of your spiritual life or overwork, the answer is the same--you need to sharpen your edge.

So, for some wisdom to help you succeed, I want to give you three things you can  do to hone your edge.

1. Connect with the fellowship of believers. Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." The first neglect that often occurs is the neglect of fellowship. We are here to help each other grow and strengthen each other in the faith (see Ephesians 4:16).
2. Repent of all known sins. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:21, "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work." You will never be ready for the work of God while you delight in sin.
3. Prepare your life to follow Christ. Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:5-8 to make every effort to add to your faith the various virtues of Christ. He concluded with this, "For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

May this help you to sharpen your spiritual axe.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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