work smarter not harder…

ecclesiastes 10.10 (niv), if the ax is dull, and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.

now do you understand what he is saying?  he’s saying that if you have an ax and your chopping word and you’ve got a dull ax, it takes more energy.  that’s why you are tired all of the time.  because you’ve got a dull ax.  he is saying, but if you have a sharp ax, it doesn’t take as much energy.

he’s saying, work smarter not harder.  that’s all he is saying.  develop your skills so that if you are a truck driver be the most skilled truck driver you can be.  if you are an accountant be the most skilled accountant that you can be.  if you are a minister, if you are a school teacher, if you are a cop, if you are in the air force, if you are a secretary, if you are a home maker, if you are in school, whatever it is, develop your skills because that is what’s going to make the difference. 

not just commitment, not just determination and those are important but not just i’m a good guy, but develop your skills.

if the ax is dull, he says, it takes more strength. 

so you need to ask yourself, a couple of things on a regular basis.  is this the best use of my time, when i am doing something?  and two, is there an easier way to do it? 

you see there is no value in simply doing it the hardest way.  if you can figure out an easier way to do it, then do it.  that’s what's called skill. 

all right so evaluate yourself.  how well did i use my time this past week?  evaluate yourself one to ten. 

three things you can do.  you waste time, you can spend time, or you can invest time.  

you can waste it.  you know you can sit around and watch soap operas or talk shows.  sit around all week and be a couch potato. 

you can spend it on things that are fun or things that are good or you can invest it, so that there are actually payoffs in the future.  because the way you spend your time now makes it easier in the future for you.  evaluate yourself. 

just a thought from the front porch…