A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Thursday,
September 12, 2019
Another
tool collection from the Star Barn, antique axes and
hatchets.
(Click
to enlarge)
This
week we are sharing a series of messages seeking to
learn lessons from several of the tools mentioned in
the Bible.
Message
summary: Are we
conscientious of all
that God has
entrusted to us? Do
we devote ourselves
to living properly,
sharing generously,
and dedicated to
God's service?
"But
as one was felling
a beam, the axe
head fell into the
water; and he
cried out and
said, 'Alas, my
master! For it was
borrowed'" (2
Kings 6:5).
Do you ever borrow tools from a friend or allow others to borrow your tools? Since some tools are used only occasionally in some cases it's more sensible to either borrow or rent rather than buying them. Several months ago I had some post holes to dig and rented a powered post hole auger. It sure wouldn't have made sense to buy that machine!
Do you ever borrow tools from a friend or allow others to borrow your tools? Since some tools are used only occasionally in some cases it's more sensible to either borrow or rent rather than buying them. Several months ago I had some post holes to dig and rented a powered post hole auger. It sure wouldn't have made sense to buy that machine!
When we
rent or borrow tools
(or anything for
that matter) the
Golden Rule requires
we take care of it
and return it in
similar condition
apart from
inevitable wear and
tear. If we break
something we have a
responsibility to
repair or replace
the borrowed item.
It is a
matter of being
conscientiousness, a
quality that seems
to be diminishing in
our age.
"Conscientiousness
is the personality
trait of being
thorough, careful,
or vigilant.
Conscientiousness
implies a desire to
do a task well.
Conscientious people
are efficient and
organized as opposed
to easy-going and
disorderly. They
exhibit a tendency
to show
self-discipline, act
dutifully, and aim
for achievement;
they display planned
rather than
spontaneous
behavior; and they
are generally
organized and
dependable."
(Wikipedia)
There's a Bible story about this concerning a borrowed axe! The word axe appears 11 times in the Bible. Almost all instances of the axe had to do with either cutting down trees or shaping wood.
There's a Bible story about this concerning a borrowed axe! The word axe appears 11 times in the Bible. Almost all instances of the axe had to do with either cutting down trees or shaping wood.
Today's
Scripture verse
provides an example
of conscientiousness
by an unnamed
prophet. Elisha's
school of prophets
had gone down near
the Jordan and were
building a place to
live. It was a
cooperative effort
with each cutting
down a tree for the
project (sort of
like a
barn-raising).
One of
them had an
accident which
most all of us
who've worked with
tools can easily
imagine. As he was
cutting down a
tree the axe head
came off! The
unnamed prophet's
reaction is
informative and
instructive.
Initially he was
surely relieved
that it didn't fly
off and hit
himself or another
worker! But he looked on with angst as the axe head fell into the water and sunk. Very distressed he cried out to Elisha, "Alas, my master! For it was borrowed". Elisha, sensitive to the worker's dilemma, recovered the axe head by throwing in a stick in the spot where the axe head sunk which caused the axe head to float in the water (something iron doesn't do naturally!).
Today I want to consider the unnamed prophet's sense of personal conscientiousness, responsibility and stewardship expressed in the phrase, "Alas, my master! For it was borrowed." He was distressed that he had lost something belonging to another.
The prophet's distress over losing the head of the borrowed axe is commendable but let us consider today, in a greater and more extensive sense, that which God has entrusted into our care! Are we conscientious of all that God has entrusted to us? Do we devote ourselves to living properly, sharing generously, and dedicated to God's service?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
may we be found
conscientious,
trustworthy, and
devoted in our
relationship to
you and to others.
We pray you will
help us to live
conscientious
lives. We want to
learn, seek to
understand and
effectively
communicate the
teachings of
Scripture so that
we prove to be
faithful stewards
of all that is
entrusted to us.
In the name of
Jesus we pray.
Amen.Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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