If you have ever chopped or split wood to use in a fireplace, you know how important it is to use an ax that is sharp. A sharp ax surely lightens the burden of a challenging work. A dull ax, however, makes chopping wood even more difficult than it already is. The Bible addresses this very truth in Ecclesiastes (10:10). The author Solomon writes, “If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength.”
When Solomon wrote these words, he was interested in far more than establishing the truth just discussed. While it is true that a dull ax makes a hard work even harder, Solomon was actually discussing how living a life for God is made harder when we don’t stay sharp and focused in our relationship with Him. We can know this to be true because of what he writes at the end of the verse quoted above. Again, Solomon writes, “If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success.”
If we don’t want our relationship with God to grow dull, lifeless, and unproductive, then we need to make sure that we use the wisdom of God’s word to stay sharp in our faith. The best way to stay sharp in our walk with the Lord is to make sure we put into practice the wisdom found in such verses of Scripture as Hebrews (10:24). The author of Hebrews writes, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” Most certainly, this wisdom from God, as well as the wisdom found in a multitude of other verses of Scripture, will help us to stay sharp in our faith.
Truly, if we want an active and productive relationship with God, we need to use the wisdom His word provides. It is God’s wisdom that helps us to overcome the challenges that arise in our walk with Him so we can in turn live successfully in His sight.
