Let's Do Some Sharpening

 

This week’s thought is taken from the parable of the lad with a dull ax. Once upon a time, a long time ago, a young man approached a logging crew in the verdant and forested woodlands of British Columbia. He was looking for work. The foreman asked George, for that was his name, if he could fell a tree with an ax. He had never chopped down a tree before, but how hard could it be? With nary a syllable out of his mouth, he lumbered over to a nearby blue spruce and felled it like a pro. The foreman hired him on the spot.

On Monday, George outdid everyone else on the crew. But, each day after that, he got slower and slower until Friday, he could barely cut one tree down. He went through all the motions, swinging his ax, hitting the tree and repeating it, but it just didn’t work very well.

Finally, George laid down his ax, sat on a tree stump, his lungs heaving with exhaustion, wondering what was causing his declining productivity and energy.

The foreman came over to see why George was lollygagging. “Ye look like yer been chewed up, spit out and stepped on, lad. What’s itchin’ at ya?” The young man described his problem. “Ah,” said the foreman. “I know what’s wrong alright. Ye been so busy all week a-doing the things that a logger does fer sure, but ye ne’er ’membered to sharpen ye ax, didja now? Ye ax is dull, and ye may as well be warming up leftover snow as chopping wood with it.”

And this is how young George learned about the importance of sharpening his ax, as well as his other tools and skills. The foreman’s words helped him to appreciate important fundamental principles and values.

And as a God-fearing lad, he also remembered from that day forward to renew his strength in the Lord. “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men will utterly fall; But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31). George thought that verse was written just for him! Now he understood just as the logger needs to sharpen his ax, we, too, need to sharpen our spiritual lives through prayer, reading Scripture and faith in God. by Timothy Merrill

[2 Corinthians 10:3-6] Every Sunday, just about noon, families walk out of church, get in the car and begin to drive home. Crucial religious instruction could, and maybe should, take place then. Here are some of the positions a parent can take as these minutes tick away. * Act like you’ve never been to worship services. *Do not mention anything that happened during Bible study and worship. * The whole experience happened in another world; now you’re back in the real world. Play devil’s advocate: * Take the opposite side of the preacher; punch a few holes in the sermon. * Make fun of the song leader noting that he sang too slow, too fast; pitched the songs too low or too high; sang too many songs or not enough. * Make fun of the prayer content and the prayer leader. * Criticize the entire worship service and all the current public ministry.

Nothing’s perfect in this world because nobody in this world is perfect. How should the car-ride conversation sound? * Support the things that took place during the worship hour. There will be times when this is easier to introduce in conversation than at other times. But make an effort to always be supportive of the ministry you are involved in (or change)! * Speak kindly of the Elders, Deacons, and Ministers. * Display an attitude of appreciation and love; and above all – unity. *Remember the little ears that are listening and learning. * There is a teachable moment after each worship service. You can sharpen the dullness.