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Daily Devotions

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 
Day 
Day 144

"Wisdom brings success"

Text: Ecclesiastes 10:10

THE APPLICATION OF WISDOM

Wisdom is extolled for its intrinsic value. Wisdom must be both sought and applied in every situation in life.

“If the axe is dull,
And one does not sharpen the edge,
Then he must use more strength;
But wisdom brings success.”
Ecclesiastes 10:10

1. “If the axe is dull”

a) People who use the axe.

i) Woodcutter

ii) General handyman

b) With usage

i) The axe loses its sharpness.

ii) It becomes less effective in use.

2. “And one does not sharpen the edge”

a) The blade of the axe must be sharpened from time to time.

b) But what if the novice woodcutter does not sharpen the edge?

3. “Then he must use more strength”

a) He can still use the axe.

b) But he would have to exert more strength to his work of woodcutting.

c) But even if more strength is employed, he may not get the desired results.

4. “But wisdom brings success”

a) Wisdom would win the day for the woodcutter.

b) He realises that his axe needs sharpening.

c) He attends to the axe and sharpens it as he should.

d) He returns to his work and finds due success.

i) Wisdom was found and applied.

ii) An important lesson was learned about the value of wisdom
in the workplace.

iii) The challenge would be to find and apply wisdom again and again
as a natural part of life.