Series: Youth for Jesus
Number: Vol. 8, No. 40
“If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.” (Eccl 10:10NIV)
What Solomon says here in our opening text can be taken as self-explanatory. Nevertheless, it is important that we consider it carefully and not assume that we fully grasp it. Otherwise, we may not reap the full benefits of the wisdom he seeks to impart to us through it.What wisdom, then, does Solomon seek to impart through what he says here? It is mainly that we must learn to do whatever we need to do to make any ability, skill or education we have more effective, efficient and profitable in life. And he uses the axe to illustrate his point.Now, as we all know, the axe is a very useful too in dealing with trees and wood. It is also a very useful weapon for soldiers and warriors.
However, one thing that will make the use of an axe easy, fast and efficient is that it is sharp. If it is not sharp but dull, more energy and time will be required to do whatever needs to be done with it. Yes, a skilful person may be able to manage a dull axe to get some things done in time. But if he is wise and does not want to unduly squander his time, energy and resources on what needs to be done, he will know that the best thing for him to do is to sharpen that dull axe.
Well, the point of it all is that if we will be highly effective and efficient in using whatever ability, skill or education we have, we must learn to develop or cultivate it. See, the abilities God has given to us and the skills and education He has enabled us to acquire will not develop themselves. We are the ones that will develop them and must develop them. Otherwise, even though we are putting them to work, it will be hard for us to shine with them, however special they may be.
For example, even though God gave Solomon wisdom that was beyond measure, he had to train his mind to read, study, learn, explore, observe, investigate and experiment. Otherwise, the wisdom in him would simply remain dormant, dull, inactive and useless. Then nobody would have known him as a very wise and great king.But the man gave himself to doing those things that will sharpen the wisdom of God in his life, things that will make him shine with it. Look at what he says about himself:“I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men!” (Eccl 1:12-13NIV)
Did you see that? Solomon did not assume that the wisdom God gave him would automatically work and make him shine all by itself. Instead, he used his head and diligently applied his mind to study and learn everything that he considered relevant for him to study and learn in life. And as he did that, the wisdom in him was being sharpened day by day.
Then, at some point, he became so effective in using that wisdom that people came from all over the world to listen to him and learn from him.In the same vein, that ability, skill or education you have may never amount to anything or take you anywhere great in life, if you leave it dull, if you leave it to sharpen itself. That is because if you will not sharpen it, it will not sharpen itself. And if you continue to use it like that, dull, blunt or uncultivated, it will not be long before it frustrates you.
But if you will sharpen or cultivate it, you will someday be amazed at the kind of effective, efficient, useful and reliable person God will have made you through it. So, take stock of those abilities, skills and education you have that are in need of being cultivated or sharpened. Then begin to do the needful to them with diligence and consistency. And may God’s favour rest on you mightily to make you shine with every good gift He has blessed you with, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2026, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to pastor@abcministryng.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 08146472876)