Ecclesiastes 10
Hone Your Skills!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, November 28.
If you look both ways before you cross the street, you will not get hit by a car. If you don’t back a dog into a corner, you will not get bit. If you work hard, you will get a good return for your efforts. Unfortunately, these axioms are not true all the time. There are no guarantees in life, even when you apply wisdom to it. Life happens because that is the reality of living under the sun. The Preacher emphasized this predicament in Ecclesiastes 10:8-10:
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
Even though you and I aren’t in control of all outcomes, as only God knows how something will turn out, we are invited to hone our skills for godly living. We are to apply wisdom to all that we do because there are inherent dangers in all tasks under the sun. Whether working in landscaping, building, quarrying, or logging, the key is to apply wisdom by honing the skills of your chosen trade, just like a logger must sharpen his axe if he hopes to be effective.
Jesus is calling you to represent Him as a “minister of reconciliation,” as an “ambassador for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). Your vocation, regardless of your occupation, is to be Christ-like, in word and deed. There’s only one way to be successful in this work: get in His easy yoke and learn from Him how to be like Him (Matthew 11:28-30).
Seize the moment and hone your skills for godly living; sharpen your axe by being with Him!
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.