Sharpening Our Axe
Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:15-17
Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
—Colossians 3:17
God’s invitation to pause from work doesn’t mean work is bad. Work is not to be seen strictly as a duty but, rather, as one of our main ways to serve God. When we do all our work as working for the Lord Jesus, then God is worshiped and receives the glory! In fact, one of the reasons God calls us to keep Sabbath is so that we will be effective in our work the other six days of the week!
There was once a man who challenged another to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked hard all day, barely taking a break. The other man, however, had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks to rest.
As evening fell, the first man was angered by the results. “Every time I checked,” he said, “you were taking a rest, and yet you ended up chopping more wood than I did.”
“But you didn’t notice,” said the winner, “that I was sharpening my axe each time I sat down.”
God calls us to stop working once a week so that we can “sharpen our axe.” He calls us to Sabbath so that we can be of greater service and of greater benefit in all our work—in our jobs and at home and with our church and family.
Thank you, O God, for the gift of work. Help me to learn how to regularly pause so that I am better equipped to serve you, bringing you glory in all my labors. Amen.
About the author — Shawn Brix
Rev. Shawn Brix has served as pastor in several Ontario churches. He and his wife, Jenny, have three children.
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