The Danger of a Dull Axe: Why Spiritual Maintenance is Non-Negotiable

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Have you ever thought about how everything in life is in a constant state of decay? Think about it: A burning fire will naturally die down unless you constantly feed it with wood. Boiling water will eventually cool the moment it’s taken off the heat. Even the sharpest knife will lose its cutting power if you don't take time to sharpen it. Cars don't stay show room ready just laying around in a garage. Neglect your health, and you suffer the consequences; fail to change the oil in your car, and you’ll soon be walking. It takes work, maintenance, and intentional effort to keep things in top premium condition

    Everything in this world is in a constant state of decay. Nothing and I mean nothing stays the same. This is especially true when you think about your spiritual walk with the Lord. The truth is that there is no such thing as costing along in your Christian walk, well not really. Think of it like you are in a boat in a river. Your trying to go up stream to your cabin. Now you can do one of three things; you can paddle and work to draw closer to your home or you can stop paddling and drift father and father away from your home. Our you can turn around and paddle in the opposite direction. Your Christian life is like that; you are either drawing closer to God, or you are drifting farther and farther apart from him and sometimes we are running in the opposite direction. 

    It is not enough to simply be saved; we must actively maintain and cultivate that relationship with God.  Yet, the scary truth is that we can often find ourselves in a spiritual slump, or plateau, and not even realize it. We can be this way for years and not even realize it. Just like boiling water, it takes time before we realize we are not as close to God as we once were. We lose our spiritual "cutting edge."

The Lost Tool of the Dedicated Servant

    The Bible gives us a powerful illustration of this danger in the book of 2 Kings. The prophet Elisha was leading a group of dedicated men—the sons of the prophets—who were working hard to build a new place to live and study. A seminary if you will. 

Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.” Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.” Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it. (2 Kings 6:1-7, ESV)

    This man was busy, dedicated, and serving God by helping to build a seminary. He was doing a good work, serving the Lord. Yet, suddenly, all he had was a stick and he was missing the business end of his axe. He was so focused on the work—on swinging the axe—that he failed to properly inspect his equipment. 

    We, too, can be so focused on being so busy for God—serving in ministry, attending church, or doing good deeds—that we neglect the very relationship that gives us the power to do the work. This can happen to pastors, deacons, Sunday school teachers, really anyone who is serving God in someway. 

This is the very warning Jesus gave to the church in Ephesus:

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. (Revelation 2:4-5, ESV)

    The Ephesian church was doing a lot of great things—they were working hard and persevering in the faith. But they had lost their first love. They lost their cutting edge because they lost their focus. They chose performance over relationship.

1. Where Did It Fall?

When the man lost his axe head, Elisha asked a crucial question: "Where did it fall?" This question seems to be a obvious question to ask, and it is. Yet so many people fail to ask this question when it concerns their relationship with God. So many people fail to ask "where did I lose my cutting edge? Where did I start to see my walk and relationship with God starting to slip? This is our starting point for spiritual maintenance:

  • Retrace your steps: Where did things go wrong in your walk? Reflect on what you stopped doing. Did you stop reading the Bible? Did your prayer life fade? Did you drop the ball on spiritual disciplines?

  • Evaluate Your Current Relationship: You once had an axe, now you have a stick. What is your present relationship with God? Do you have the same joy for the things of God as you once did?We must be willing to stop the "swinging" and evaluate our spiritual condition.

2. Follow the True Shepherd

    In our consumer culture, there is a constant, subtle pressure to conform to what the world says is acceptable. We want to fit in, to be accepted, and not to be the odd one out. We tend to follow the crowd. But what if what everyone else is doing is wrong?

As followers of Christ, we are called to a different way of life. We are called to not follow the leader but to follow the Shepherd, the true Shepard Jesus Christ. 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2, ESV

    We are not called to fit in; we are called to be transformed. Our desire should not be to follow others, but to follow God and pattern our lives on His timeless Word. This is not a path of popularity; it is a path of truth. 

    Jesus Christ did not conform to the world's expectations. He spoke to the Samaritan woman, sat with tax collectors and sinners, and healed on the Sabbath—all things that were culturally unpopular. To maintain our spiritual edge, we must follow the True Shepherd, whose voice we recognize. The world is full of voices—some even disguised as wholesome—that can lead us astray. But we have the promise that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, leads us with love and care.

How to Sharpen Your Spiritual Edge

    We are called to live differently , seeking what is good, acceptable, and perfect. Here are 4 practical ways to maintain your spiritual cutting edge and avoid being conformed to the world:

  1. Prioritize the Gospel (The Foundation): The starting point for any relationship with Jesus is responding to His call. Jesus died on the cross to forgive your sins, restore your relationship with God, and bring you into His flock. If you are uncertain of your faith, surrender your life to Christ today, receiving Him as your Lord and Savior. He is the source of all hope.

  2. Renew Your Mind Daily: Paul tells us the key to transformation is the renewal of our mind. This means studying, listening, and learning God's will through Scripture. Conform your life not to feelings, emotions, or what is popular, but to the very Word of God. A dull mind leads to a dull life.

  3. Cultivate Your Personal Relationship: Being a Christian is a lifelong process of building on your relationship with Jesus. Just as you wouldn't stop talking to your spouse after the wedding, don't stop talking to your Savior. Spend time in prayer and reading the Bible. The closer you get to Jesus, the easier it will be to hear His voice and follow Him.

  4. Practice Intentional Reflection: Before you jump in on what everyone else is doing, take time to think about what God says about the matter. In moments of uncertainty, seek His direction through prayer and reflection. Don't allow the worries and fears of the world to cause you to lose sight of the love of God. Trust that your Shepherd is watching over you, providing and protecting you.

    Take a moment today and ask yourself, "Where did I drop the axe?" Let the answer lead you back to the Lord, restoring the joy and power that come from a deep, vibrant relationship with the only one who can truly sustain your soul.

Location: Ashmore, IL 61912, USA

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