Sharpen the Axe

I actually love chopping wood! Growing up in the country, I had a lot of opportunity to chop wood, and the reality of this verse is legit: trying to split wood with a dull axe is exhausting, and nothing is more frustrating than to have a powerful swing bounce off of a log due to an unsharpened splitter. It’s so important to take time to sharpen. Even though the time spent sharpening does not yield any cut wood, it drastically decreases the time and effort it takes to chop. And of course, the application is much more broad than just farm chores. When serving others, we can become dull and worn just like an axe blade. Time, conflict, and extended periods of exertion can definitely wear us down, so it is important to sharpen ourselves. Take time to get away, pray, read the Scriptures, worship, rest, and spend some time with friends and family having fun to recharge and sharpen your edge. Establish such a time of sharpening and guard it, knowing that a sharpened Servant is an effective Servant.