Get Sharp

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".

Do you ever get caught in a circle of pressing harder in your life's work, with limited results. I know I do. When we get trapped in these ruts, our worldly wisdom is that of the gunny Sargent or football coach, "Roll up your sleeves and work harder! You are just not putting enough effort into what you are doing!". While that instruction is certainly beneficial for the lazy teenager or undisciplined private, that may not be a fruitful word for us all, all the time.

What Solomon is heralding is a simple truth that has practical and spiritual implications. A dull effort requires more time, strength and exertion to accomplish an certain task. Wisdom can alter our approach to an effort in such a way that our energies that we put fourth are more productive, because we are more cleverly efficient in our approach. Need examples? They are literally everywhere in our lives, from engines, phones,TVs, radios, chainsaws, washing machines, the Internet, cars, computers , and on down the line. God allows us to implement sound Wisdom to increase our fruitfulness in very practical ways.

Now spiritually speaking, this carries us deeper into Solomon's wisdom as we draw near to the Heart of God. If our life, and/or ministry and worship efforts are man led, they will seem like a heavy labor, as the power of the efforts is man made and dull. They will wear us out, because we are pulling a load that is too heavy for us and thus we are fighting a battle we are unequipped to fight with our own dull bladed strength. Replace that by following Jesus into your callings and ministries, and allow His double edged sword of the Spirit which is razor sharp to lead out and KABOOM...our lives and ministry efforts have a heavenly miraculous potential.

There is much to learn from the Wisdom of God through Solomon. Practically, how can wisdom be a leverage point to your efforts today? Spiritually, are you resting in the work of Jesus or are you working your fanny off for Him? Resting in Christ allows even the tallest, most daunting work to be done in the comfort and security of God's peace. That is found by walking in His will each day. His efforts are not dull..