Scripture

Ecclesiastes 10:10

If the ax is dull,

And one does not sharpen the edge,
Then he must use more strength;
But wisdom [a]brings success.

Don't Waste Your Time

I love this portion, because most of us get the point on the surface.   The moral of the story here is work smarter, not harder.   But how many of us have invested a lot of hard work into something that in the end wasn't worth it or didn't produce fruit?   One of the truths you learn as you get older is that time is precious, that once wasted, you cannot get it back.  It is not that you shouldn't keep trying to accomplish things, but rather that you should consider who you will do it for, so as not to waste your time.  Wisdom is the process by which we determine what things we should be doing and what things we should not; that is what Solomon is saying: don't waste your time. In ministry, you learn that people will ask you to start many things, but not all of them are you supposed to do. Other things we need to consider are their results, is it worth all the energy, this is wisdom, knowing what you should and should not do. 

So today's God Shot is: "Don't waste our time."   Consider, plan, and do preparations now so that you make the most of your time.   Because in the end, your time is the most precious thing you have.    It is not that we should not accomplish much, nor that we shouldn't try, but we should consider the cost, be prepared, and sharpen our axes before we cut the wood.

If you:

1. Plan before you prepare
2. Consider the cost
3. Seek Wisdom from the Lord

You will not waste your time...

Lord, I pray that we would do the things you prepared us to do, that we would guard our time, our strength, and not waste any of the resources you have given us, that we would be fruitful, that what we put our hands to would prosper, that we would have you favor, that our axes would be sharp and our labor short, that in the end we would accomplish more.