Swinging Harder

10 If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success. Ecclesiastes 10:10

How long can someone keep swinging a dull ax before considering the blade?

The Teacher describes what happens when an ax loses its edge. The work takes more strength, and each swing becomes harder than necessary. A dull ax demands more effort, but wisdom changes the work entirely.

When the finish line is near, stopping to check the blade feels like a waste of time. I put my head down and keep swinging harder. In my life, that usually means forcing a project when I’m running on empty or grinding through a heavy week out of stubbornness. I mistake exhaustion for faithfulness and stubbornness for wisdom.

Commenting on this passage, Robert Davidson writes, “The skilled craftsman makes sure that the axe he uses is sharp before he begins his work. It is easy to see when it is put like that, but perhaps not so easy to recognize in our lives.”

The Teacher says wisdom gives me an advantage. I wonder how often I've mistaken determination to finish for true wisdom about how to proceed. True wisdom is trusting God enough to put the ax down for a minute, knowing a sharpened edge does more in one swing than an hour of frantic work.

The invitation here is to look at the actual tools God has placed in my hands. Whether it is my patience or my physical energy, running on empty will always dull the edge. Wisdom says it is okay to stop and take care of the tools.

Father, You know how easily I become consumed with finishing what I've started. Help me notice when I'm making the work harder than it needs to be. I want to trust You enough to pause and lay the ax down. Show me where I push past peace, and give me the patience to reconsider my approach when I need to.