Tag: preparation

Preparing…to be a Fool?

Ecclesiastes 9-10

Psalm 105

1 John 4

-Devotion by Paula Kirkpatrick (MN)

With any activity, there can often be a hidden risk involved.  It’s simply a fact of life and the fallibility of the human race.  The writer of Ecclesiastes, chapter 10, points this out in verses 8-10.

Dig a pit – you might fall into it.

Break through a wall – a serpent might be on the other side and bite you.

Quarrying stones could result in injury.

Splitting logs could be dangerous.

The Preacher elaborates on the log splitting with a simple explanation. 

“If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength.”

Simple logic, what we might call a “no brainer.”  But as the writer has been sharing throughout Ecclesiastes, foolish people lack good sense.

“Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.” (Ecclesiastes 10:3)

One of my husband’s favorite television programs is “Forged in Fire,” found on the History Channel.  Four bladesmiths compete in three rounds of elimination, forging various kinds of knives or other bladed weapons, out of diverse kinds of steel.  Besides the drama of completing their blades during a three-hour period, the competitors must also get them hardened and sharpened for rigorous testing. 

During the last minutes of the first round, viewers often see the bladesmiths feverishly sharpening their blades on sanding belts, the sparks flying.  They want their blades as sharp as possible before they are tested. The goal?  To watch Judge Doug Marcaida test their blades, perhaps slicing through a row of apples or sacks filled with sand, and say these words.  “Your edge is razor sharp.  Your blade—Will Cut!”

A dull axe shows a lack of preparation.  A lack of preparation for log splitting can result in more work, and even possible injury.  The difference between the wise and the foolish could not be clearer.

Each day is a new beginning in our pursuit of a meaningful life.  If we don’t prepare properly for that day, we often miss out on opportunities to live a life of purpose. 

Don’t live the life of a fool—unfocused, and directionless. 

“The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.” (Ecclesiastes 10:15)

Seek the wisdom of God, assured that whatever the day brings, whatever activity or opportunity presents itself, you will be prepared to confidently meet it. 

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  (James 1:5-8)

Reflection Questions

  1. In the spirit of Ecclesiastes 10, what kind of example can you give of a fool?
  2. How do you prepare for each new day God gives you?   

Prayer

Dear Wise, Righteous and Loving God – help me learn from You and Your Word. Show me how to prepare and to live a life of wisdom, righteousness and love, making the most of every opportunity. Thank You for the gifts you give daily. May I use them to faithfully serve You.

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Preparation

Job 31

Psalm 100

*1 Peter 1

Devotion by J.J. Fletcher – J.J. is a 2009 graduate of Atlanta Bible College and has been pastoring Pine Grove Bible Church  (Brooklyn Park, MN) since 2017. He has been married to Hope (Kirkpatrick) for 18 years and has 4 children.

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

This quote is often attributed to Abraham Lincoln, but there is no evidence that he said or wrote it. It’s a good quote, nonetheless. Preparation is critical to proper execution.

John Kruck, a former Philadelphia Phillies baseball player, once joked that he drove hitting coaches crazy because he once used 6 different batting stances in an at-bat and ended up striking out. Baseball players work on their batting stance to get their timing and swing path to a consistent, repeatable motion so that they are not inaccurately flailing at incoming pitches. Preparation is critical to proper execution.

In 1st Peter 1:13, Peter calls on his readers to “prepare their minds for action” and to be “sober-minded.” This is a call to preparation for the goal of living holy lives. As Jesus lived a life filled with holy conduct, Peter says that “you also be holy in your conduct.” 

Peter recalls the former ignorance of his readers, living outside the redemption of the Gospel, living lives motivated and marked by their passions or desires, and encourages them to instead strive for holiness.

We all have issues with things that are not holy. Temptation abounds, whether it’s lust, pride, laziness, excess, or the myriads of other things that we might struggle with. Deciding to follow Jesus does not magically eliminate all of these temptations. Whether we’ve been a believer for 5 minutes or 50 years, the struggle remains, but the way that we prepare ourselves for daily spiritual warfare will help determine how successful we are at avoiding the traps of sin.

The language that Peter uses for prepare is literally to “gird up.” In antiquity, men would wear long, baggy outerwear that would be cumbersome to perform many tasks in, so to gird up your loins meant that you would tie up the loose fabric around your belt so that it would not clench up or be a tripping hazard. That is the imagery we are to see here: prepare your mind for the life and battles ahead, just as you would adjust your clothing for a particular task. Being sober-minded means being self-controlled. Self-control is an intentional practice that takes preparation and is marked by discipline. We must be mindful of where/what our temptations and weaknesses are and have an action plan for how we are going to respond when sin is crouching at our door. We should pray for strength, and God will help us, but we must also actively work to orient our lives in a way where we don’t find sin backing us into a corner. Preparation is critical for proper execution.

Reflection Questions

  1. What has become reoccurring tripping hazards for you? Consider specific temptations, bad habits, attitudes.
  2. How would you rate your self-control? How can you strengthen your self-discipline muscles? How can stronger self-control help you make better use of the time, gifts, body, and blessings God has given to you?
  3. What specific exercises, attitudes, thoughts, activities, accountability, verses, songs, etc…would be helpful to prepare your mind for holy action?

Prayer

Dear Father – You are perfect in all Your ways and thoughts, attitudes and actions. And I am not. Forgive me for the times I have not heeded Your word and Your will and instead became tripped up by a lack of self-control and fell to selfish sinfulness. Thank you for all the blessings You have provided for me, including life. Help me to use my mind, body, time and blessings in ways that are pleasing to You. In Your Son’s name, I pray, Amen

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