Author: Rob Collins

Most of us, if we were going to cut down a tree, probably wouldn’t use an ax nowadays. Maybe a chainsaw, but probably not an ax—except for splitting the wood from the tree. However, the analogy in Ecclesiastes 10 is not just about an ax, I believe it’s actually a metaphor about us and it’s about being dull instead of being sharp. It’s about how it takes more effort when we lose our edge.

The word dull simple means, “lacking.” Have you ever felt like that you have lacked wisdom, lacked vision, lacked creativity, lacked imagination, lacked good judgement, lacked confidence, or lacked compassion. Me too. This realization should demand a change. It should initiate a reset. It should cause us to reset, reevaluate, and restore ourselves by refreshing and recharging.

Nonetheless, there is another word that stuck out to me in this verse as well. That word is wisdom. Wisdom means: good sense, skill and prudence. Prudence means: the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. Another words, wisdom makes me aware that I’m dull. It allows me to realize that I’ve lost my edge. It lets me know that I need to take time to refresh. It also gives me the ability to govern myself in order to do something about it! And, ultimately, over time, this will bring with it desired success.

Now for comparison, here’s the problem with the ax being dull, you don’t know it is dull until you begin to use it. And, you don’t realize that you’ve lost your edge until you begin to engage in something that demands intentional effort. Nonetheless, when you do realize it, you need to stop chopping and start sharpening. Step away and refresh, recharge, reflect, refocus, reset, and realign.

So what happens when you don’t resharpen? What happens when you become dull? What happens when you lose your focus? What happens when you lose your edge?

• Work gets harder and tasks take more energy. 

• You don’t have the strength to put forth the effort that is needed.

• Things become a bigger deal and you feel overwhelmed.

• Your mind consistently drifts and you lose focus easily.

• Frustration becomes inevitable because goals appear unattainable.

So, what do you do?

You have to step away from the routine of the process in order to sharpen the edge.

Sharpening an ax and chopping with an ax are two different postures—you stand up to chop, but you sit down to sharpen.

Take time for yourself and sharpen your edge. It will make everything easier, and in time you will achieve greater success.

What matters most to you? Does it get the best from you? Does it get the best you? Does it get your attention and time? Do you just value it, or do you prioritize it? Do you prioritize what you value? Because if you don’t prioritize what you value it won’t be a priority.

Most of the time we prioritize what we prefer, but then we get deterred. 

There are also times when things can take our time and get our attention that are not necessarily that important. Those things are usually a distraction or a dramatic moment. 

Don’t allow distractions to distract you from your priorities. 

Distractions and drama will zap your energy, and they will unknowingly realign your preferred priorities. 

Whatever is a priority in your life should have your time, attention and effort.Your highest priorities should be what you fight for and invest your time and energy in. 

However, if we were honest we would probably have to confess to the fact that we actually spend a lot of time, energy, and effort on things that don’t really truly matter. We exhaust our energy on things that take our time, but they don’t produce lasting and fulfilling results. 

Here’s the problem, when we focus on what doesn’t matter—we don’t have the energy for what does. Prioritizing takes effort, energy, and intentionality. So when we prioritize what doesn’t matter—we don’t have energy left over to invest in the things that do truly matter. 

Therefore, if you don’t make time for what matters, what you say is a priority, in all actuality, it won’t be a priority after all. 

It takes awareness, effort and intentionality to prioritize. Those things that you put first and make time for by being intentional will become the priority in your life. Nevertheless, nothing becomes a priority by accident—it becomes a priority only on purpose.

You must be intentional and truly prioritize what matters! What is a priority in your life? Your relationship with God? Your career? Your marriage? Your spouse? Your children? Your family? Your health? Have your priorities gotten out of order? Only you can answer that—only you know, but here’s what I know: “What you don’t make a priority-won’t be!” 

I want to encourage you today to be intentional and prioritize those things that matter the most to you. You will be more effective, you will have more order, and you will have peace in your life when you are intentional about prioritizing—because what you don’t make a priority—won’t be.

We all have potential in some area that needs to be developed no matter what our level of expertise may be. Obscurity is where potential is often developed. David, Jesus, and John the Baptist all had significant moments in the mundane routines of obscurity. However, in life, in sports, and in our spiritual journey no one usually sees the processes that lead to success.

Nonetheless, David practiced in private what gave him skills in public. When David faced the giant Goliath for the first time—it wasn’t the first time that he had picked up a sling shot and threw a stone. He had been on the back side of a mountain with his father’s sheep while his other brothers were on the battle lines. However, when David arrived to the battle he was ready because he didn’t waste those moments of obscurity when no one was watching.

This time of obscurity built his faith and developed his confidence. David had faith in God, but he had confidence in his skills. He also had to have courage to act upon what he believed in, and desired to see happen. You see, you can have all of the faith in the world, but if you don’t have confidence and courage, you will never act on what you believe in or desire to see take place.

I want to encourage you today to develop your potential in times of obscurity, because that’s where you will develop the confidence and courage to act on what you desire to see take place. Have faith in God, have confidence in yourself and have the courage to take action and you will begin to see what you desire. Don’t waste those mundane moments in the routines of obscurity.