by Robert Tamasy
Do you ever have days when it seems you have been working as hard as possible, yet you have not accomplished much – if anything? I think we all have days like that. Sometimes, despite our best efforts and intentions, there is little fruit for all of our labors.
Sometimes, however, lack of productivity can be attributed to failure to “sharpen our saw.” Consider the following interaction:
Supervisor: “What are you doing, Louis?”
Louis: “I am sawing these wooden boards – and I have a lot to do!”
Supervisor: “Hmmmm. Yes, but Louis – I cannot tell for sure from this angle, but it looks like your saw needs to be sharpened.”
Louis: “You have the eyes of a hawk, boss. I have seen sharper butter knives.”
Supervisor: “So tell me, Louis, if you do not mind me asking – then why not sharpen your saw?”
Louis: “Oh, I am not able to do that now, boss. I am too busy cutting these boards!”
Have you ever been in a situation like that? U.S. President Abraham Lincoln once said, “If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I would spend six hours sharpening my ax.” This thought is echoed in the Old Testament of the Bible: “If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success” (Ecclesiastes 10:10).
Hard work, determination and energy can accomplish only so much. Sometimes what a worker needs most is to “sharpen the saw.” But how do we do that, especially when we have much to do and little time in which to get it done? We can pursue specialized training, receive additional education, or attend helpful seminars and conferences. But here are some less time-consuming suggestions from the Bible:
Get enough rest. Sometimes when pressed by deadlines, we feel tempted to work longer and sacrifice sleep. That might work for a brief time, but eventually the lack of much-needed rest will take a toll. “It is useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Do you not know he (the Lord) enjoys giving rest to those he loves?” (Psalm 127:2).
Dedicate you work to God. What are the motives behind your work: professional advancement, more money, self-gratification? It would be wise to dedicate your work to God and seek to honor Him in what you do. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3).
Trust in His direction. Often our work is complex, and we find many alternatives we could pursue. Which is the best, most efficient, least time-consuming direction to take? We might not know, but the Bible says that God does. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
Pray for wisdom. Knowledge and skill are good, but most often, wisdom in how to proceed most effectively with our work is even better. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to anyone without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran journalist, he has written Tufting Legacies (iUniverse); Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace (River City Press); and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress). For more information, see www.leaderslegacy.com or his blogs, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com and www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com.