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"Lesson From A Dull Axe"
Message
summary:
May the Lord
help us all to
keep our
spiritual axe
sharp with the
wisdom that
comes from
above!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"If the axe
is dull and he
does not
sharpen its
edge, then he
must exert
more strength.
Wisdom has the
advantage of
giving
success"
(Ecclesiastes
10:10). "If
any of you
lacks wisdom,
you should ask
God, who gives
generously to
all without
finding fault,
and it will be
given to you"
(James 1:5).
A
while back I
removed a Rose
of Sharon tree
from our front
lawn. It was
planted by the
previous owner
and for many
years it was a
beautiful tree
especially
during
blooming
season (see
photo to left
during its
prime blooming
season).
But it became
diseased and
the trunk was
rotting away.
So I set about
to remove it.
Since I don't
have a chain
saw I started
with a bow saw
but it was
very hard,
stubborn
cutting since
I wanted to
take it off as
low to the
ground as
possible so I
could mow over
it.
After
some slow
laborious
sawing I
recalled that
I had an ax
among my tools
so I commenced
to just
chopping the
tree down.
However I
rarely use the
ax and it was
not very sharp
to begin with
and even less
so now, so it
was very slow
going with the
dull head. I
experienced
the truism in
today's text,
"If the axe
is dull and he
does not
sharpen its
edge, then he
must exert
more
strength."
I finally
managed to cut
the tree down
and it was low
enough that I
could seed the
area with
grass.
Apart from the
literal sense
of slow
chopping I
experienced
from the daily
text, let us
consider the
spiritual
sense, which
has a timeless
application
for all.
I do not
recall ever
considering
this passage
till Jesse
Dourte, a late
friend of
mine, called
my attention
to it as we
were
discussing the
Bible one
time. It's a
relatively
straightforward
statement that
is pretty
self-evident.
"If
the ax is
dull, and one
does not
sharpen its
edge, then one
must exert
more
strength."Today's
message began
with my
experience of
using a dull
ax. Since it
didn't have a
sharp edge I
just put up
with the dull
edge; however
it certainly
does require
more exertion
of strength as
I more or less
just hacked
away while
chopping down
the tree!
Our spiritual
lesson is
found in the
latter part of
the verse. "However,
the advantage
of wisdom is
that it brings
success."
It seems the
writer is
saying that
wisdom is like
a sharp axe.
Wisdom is a
major theme in
the Book of
Ecclesiastes
which itself
is part of the
section in the
Bible known as
the "Wisdom
Literature".
Wesley
observes, "As
wisdom
instructs a
man in the
smallest
matters, so it
is useful for
a man's
direction in
all weighty
affairs."
As God's
children we
need to be
growing in our
spiritual
wisdom. This
will in turn
lead to
success. We
feel this is
primarily
speaking of
spiritual
success,
living in a
manner
pleasing to
the Lord and
attaining the
ultimate form
of success
which is
hearing our
Lord's words,
"Well
done, good and
faithful
servant".
We are blessed
to have the
Holy
Scriptures,
which are able
to make us
wise for
salvation
through faith
in Christ
Jesus. (see 2
Timothy
3:14-16).
May the Lord
help us all to
experience the
advantage of
wisdom in
keeping our
spiritual axe
sharp!
Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father
we thank you
for the truths
expressed in
Scripture that
reveal the way
to wisdom.
Your Word
states that if
any of you
lacks wisdom,
you should ask
of God, who
gives to all
generously and
without
reproach, and
it will be
given to you.
Today we ask
of You that we
may present to
You a heart of
wisdom. This
wisdom from
above is first
pure, then
peaceable,
gentle,
reasonable,
full of mercy
and good
fruits,
unwavering,
and without
hypocrisy. As
we attain that
wisdom may our
lives be as a
sharpened ax,
useful for the
purpose You
ordained,
leading to a
life that
pleases You.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
James 1:5,
Psalm 90:12,
James 3:17
The Adam
Clarke
Commentary
states, "If
the iron be
blunt, if the
axe have lost
its edge, and
the owner does
not sharpen
it, he must
apply the more
strength to
make it cut:
but the wisdom
that is
profitable to
direct will
teach him that
he should whet
his axe, and
spare his
strength.
Thus, without
wisdom and
understanding
we cannot go
profitably
through the
meanest
concerns in
life.
Coffman's
Commentary on
the Bible:
"Wisdom can
make any job
easier; if a
person
sharpens the
axe the job is
easier. Wisdom
is like that."
Wisdom is a
gift from God.
James 1:5
states, "If
any of you
lacks wisdom,
you should ask
God, who gives
generously to
all without
finding fault,
and it will be
given to you."
Wisdom is what
God will bless
us with in
order for us
to glorify Him
with the
knowledge we
have of Him.
(gotquestions.org)
Like
most men, I
like tools and
have quite a
collection
accumulated
through the
years. The
photo above is
my workshop in
our utility
barn. My dad
was a "blue
collar"
working man
who had an
extensive work
shop and tool
collection. I
inherited a
number of his
tools and of
course through
the years have
bought many of
my own.
The tools
mentioned in
the Bible such
as hammer,
goad, plumb
line,
adjustable
wrench and so
on each would
illustrate a
spiritual
truth.
(Actually
adjustable
wrench is not
in the Bible
but probably
could be a
spiritual
illustration!)
A
list of tools
in the Bible.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
Here are the answers to the gardening quiz (answers are in bold)
1. Mulch is used to smother weeds, beautify flower beds and base of trees, and help retain moisture.
2. Organic waste such as coffee grounds and vegetable peelings can be turned into compost which is used to enrich soil and stimulate plant growth.
3. What pesky insect has a problem with drinking beer, much to its demise? Slugs.
4. A product that helps plants grow in quality and quantity is called fertilizer. (Bet some guessed Miracle Grow!)
5. Name two early spring vegetables that will withstand light frosts. Lettuce, cilantro, spinach, peas, broccoli, onions, & a few others.
6. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map shows your area to be in which growing zone? #7 in our area but this will vary depending on where you live. (See here for a zone map for the United States).
7. The process of the sprouting of a seed is called germination.
8. The method of gardening utilizing only materials derived from living things (i.e. composts & manures) is called organic.
9. The process of digging up a plant and moving it to another location is called transplanting.
10. The science of growing plants in mineral solutions or water, instead of in soil is called hydroponics.
11. A flower that grows only one growing season is called an annual.
12. A plant or ornamental that returns year after year is called a perennial.
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
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