Sharpen Your Tools
Accompanying lesson video: https://youtu.be/eBHKZe9qYRk
LESSON 11: SHARPEN YOUR TOOLS: ECCLESIASTES 10
EXAMPLE: Two men were in a contest to see who could cut their tree down the quickest. One of the men kept working, perspiring, and chopping away. He would look over and see the other man taking a break. He thought, I will win this contest and he kept chopping away. Then to his surprise, the other man’s tree fell to the ground. He asked the man, “How did you cut your tree first, you kept taking a break and I kept working?” The man said, “I was sharpening my ax”. Could we be doing the same thing again and again and expect a different result? Let us sharpen our tools!
In our lives, my husband was not a “Mr. Fixit” around the house. When he would try to fix something, he would always say, “I just do not have the right tools”. We tried to buy the right tools, but he wasn’t interested in using them; it was easier to hire a friend.
When a contractor is going to build a structure, he knows what tools are needed before he begins the project. Can you imagine showing up at the site without the right tools for him and his crew. The day would be wasted, and nothing would get done.
In the work of God, sometimes we expect to build but we have not taken an inventory of our tools and we try to do the project alone without people to help us. They may come to help but if they do not know what to do and how to do the project, again we waste our time and their time. Maybe this is one of the most important lessons in this series. Do you recognize the right tools, and do you have them to get the job done? Let’s look at Ecclesiastes 10!
1. THE FIRST TOOL IS A SENSITIVE, TEACHABLE SPIRIT.
Verse 4: If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit. A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.
As a leader, many times I could detect people who were willing to learn and be trained. We all face situations and even persons who are unwilling to change, and that makes you upset and frustrated. What do we do? Do we run, or ignore?
DO NOT PANIC.
We’ve had to say those short “Help me Lord” prayers under our breath. I call them SOS prayers. We do not want to face the problem or talk to that individual again or especially at that moment.
KEEP CALM: SEE IT THROUGH.
Do not persist in a losing argument.
Proverbs 15:1 – A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. A rising voice and harsh words almost always trigger an angry response. To turn away wrath, seek peace, choose gentle words.
PRAY: WHICH HELPS OUR SPIRIT TO BE IN CONTROL.
The Holy Spirit can give direction which you never would think or conceive.
2. REALIZE LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS FAIR
Verses 5 to 9: Solomon declares wisdom to riches is nothing without God.
NO HUMAN EXPLANATION.
We walk by faith not sight! In human terms, How can I just say, “I’m sorry Lord, forgive me and I want to be your child”. There is no human explanation that all the terrible things in my life have been washed away. That’s amazing!
Our whole life and existence are built on faith in what God says and what he tells us to do. “His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts”. We would never make the right choices without His help and guidance. I cannot explain why we would move across country to a place we have just heard about and begin a new life. Again, we give our questions to Him and when the “unfair happens”, we know He takes the unfair and makes good come from it.
GOD USES WHAT LITTLE WE HAVE AND IT BECOMES ALL WE COULD EVER WANT OR NEED.
Wow, in my life, what seemed the “most unfair” in situations became our greatest testimonies.
Example: We moved to California and took a new church which was 2500 miles away from our home. What we didn’t know, it was a beautiful building, but with a few people who were bitter, resentful and many left after our move. Our family had no money, we had an almost empty church building and we didn’t know what would happen. Except we trusted, worked hard (in the church and outside at a job). If you ask our sons, they will tell you, “This unfair situation and place proved how God takes care of His children and that is why I said YES to the call of the ministry”!
3. SHARPEN YOUR TOOLS
Verse 10: Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom, it helps you succeed.
Trying to do anything without the necessary skills or tools is like chopping wood with a dull ax.
GET YOUR TOOLS READY
I know I heard my husband say, “I did not learn how to build a church at Bible College”. Again, we have the call but what are the steps to move forward?
BE AROUND PEOPLE WHO ARE WISE AND AHEAD OF YOU IN YOUR JOURNEY.
I can say we recognized early in our ministry that we needed help and advice. We set out to learn from others who were successful in their call.
We went to many Pastor/leader schools, took notes, went home, and asked our Father, “Help us to follow through with the advice we received for our place of ministry”.
I know every situation is different, but we can all sharpen our tools by listening, learning, and putting into practice what we have learned.
For example: One of the greatest principles we learned was “you cannot build alone”.
PRAY: EVERYTHING IS BIRTHED IN PRAYER.
There is nothing like being in His presence hearing from the One who Called you!
KNOW YOUR GOD, KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY AND KNOW HIS PLANS FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.
KEEP TRAINING YOURSELF AND OTHERS.
Everyone has a job to do! When we feel responsible; we will be there, helping to carry the load.
I have heard it said, “What someone else can do, train them and let them do it then go to the next person and do the same”!
For example: Train others in administration, In Worship and music, in facilities (taking care of cleaning and upkeep), In Visitation and outreach, In Pastoral Care visiting Hospitals and the sick, In Greeting, (Your first impression will last forever), Ushering, In prayer, in Children’s Ministry and in teaching Bible Studies. These are just a few.
Probably you remember someone handing you a Sunday School book asking you to teach a class. There was no instruction, you did not know anything about the class, the students and how to reach them on their level! Those days must be over! We sharpen our tools to get excellence.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful for you as a pastor, leader to concentrate on training, prayer, and study of the Word as others help in the oversight of the flock?
4. ENJOY MATURE LEADERS (YOUR TEAM)
Verse 17: Happy is the land whose king is a noble leader and whose leaders feast at the proper time to gain strength for their work.
When the Israelites had immature and irresponsible leaders, the nation fell. The basic problem of these leaders were selfishness and laziness.
Could our Church Ministry be failing because we have not sharpened our tools? Perhaps we have burned out and no one wants to help, and the work begins to diminish.
FIND THE AREA WHERE YOUR AX IS DULL OR YOU ARE “OVERWORKED” AND IT SEEMS HOPELESS.
This sounds difficult but the Holy Spirit is faithful!
WE MUST RECOGNIZE A PROBLEM BEFORE WE CAN FIX IT.
I think we make it too hard. Let’s pray and ask our Father to show us the greatest need and begin to sharpen those tools.
ENJOY THE FRUIT OF YOUR LABOR.
I always say, “We don’t know what we don’t know”, but I pray this lesson has opened some areas where we could use help and do your part in that process. You may begin by training ONE person who has a heart for God and pour into him/her that you have learned.
I remember one of the happiest times in our ministry was when we began to provide “Leadership Retreats” yearly then we began to see growth as never before.
Conclusion:
Yes, we have trained, been hurt, and betrayed, but the next time God made up for the disappointment; we built teams that are still making a difference today even after we are gone. We do not live for just today; we make a difference for generations to come! People build on what we have build (with His help).