When More Effort Is Not the Answer:
Self-Counsel from Ecclesiastes 10:10

Most of us have a natural response when things are not going well. We try harder. When a project stalls, we put in more hours. When ministry becomes difficult, we work longer and push harder. When relationships become strained, we often increase our efforts to fix them. When spiritual growth seems slow, we make another resolution and determine to try harder next time.

Sometimes that is exactly what is needed. Sometimes it is not.

Several years ago now, I first considered a sweet piece from King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 10:10, which offers a surprising word of wisdom:

“If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success” (Ecclesiastes 10:10).

At first glance, this appears to be a simple observation about cutting wood. Yet, like much of Ecclesiastes, Solomon uses an ordinary scene from everyday life to teach a deeper lesson about wisdom and folly.

Before we consider the verse itself, it helps to remember its context. Ecclesiastes as a book is one of my favorite Old Testament books, because of its incredible wisdom which points us to living life according to God’s purpose with the fear of the Lord. It is not merely interested in what is true; it is interested in what is wise. Ecclesiastes 10 is a chapter filled with observations about how wisdom and folly operate in the world. Other key observations in this chapter include: dead flies ruin perfume (v. 1), a fool’s heart leads him astray (vv. 2–3), and carelessness creates unnecessary trouble (vv. 8–9). Throughout the chapter, Solomon contrasts wise living with foolish living.

In verse 10, Solomon observes a woodsman struggling to cut down a tree with a dull axe. The axe still works. In fact, the tree can still be cut down. However, the work becomes far more difficult than it needs to be. Instead of stopping to sharpen the blade, the woodsman simply swings harder and expends more energy.

Solomon’s conclusion is straightforward: A wise person or wisdom would have sharpened the axe first. Of course, as all wisdom does, the point extends far beyond forestry.

One of the great temptations in life is to assume that more effort is always the answer. When something is not working, our instinct is often to increase activity. We possibly work harder, stay later, push more, add another commitment, try another strategy, or exert more energy. Yet, Solomon reminds us that effort and wisdom are not the same thing. In fact, there are times when more effort merely compensates for a lack of wisdom.

A dull axe often disguises itself as a motivation problem, when the real issue is a wisdom problem. That observation has caused me to stop and think more than once. How often do I respond to difficulty by simply swinging harder? How often do I assume that greater effort is the solution when what is actually needed is greater wisdom? As a pastor, I can fall into this trap. We become busy with meetings, sermons, counseling sessions, administration, and ministry opportunities. When we begin feeling ineffective, our instinct may be simply to work longer hours, spend more time in prayer, or just stay busy.

Pastors are not alone. Parents can fall into this trap. When children struggle, we sometimes respond by increasing pressure rather than increasing wisdom. Employees can fall into this trap. When productivity decreases, we assume the answer is more effort rather than asking whether our approach needs adjustment. Followers of Jesus Christ can fall into this trap. When spiritual growth feels slow, we often become frustrated and resolve to try harder instead of considering whether something has dulled our spiritual edge.

What dulls the axe?

This raises an important question: What dulls the axe? The answer may differ from person to person, but several possibilities come immediately to mind. Sometimes the axe becomes dull through neglect. We gradually drift from the habits that once nourished our souls. Time in Scripture becomes sporadic. Prayer becomes rushed. Worship becomes routine. Fellowship becomes optional. Overall, we remain active, but our edge grows dull.

Sometimes the axe becomes dull through fatigue. God created us with limitations. We are finite creatures. Even faithful servants grow weary. Physical exhaustion, emotional strain, and prolonged stress often affect us more than we realize.

Sometimes the axe becomes dull through distraction. Our age is filled with noise. Notifications, news, entertainment, social media, endless opinions, and constant interruptions compete for our attention. A distracted heart rarely remains sharp for long.

Sometimes the axe becomes dull through unconfessed sin. Sin has a way of dulling spiritual sensitivity; it is almost as if one becomes hard of hearing to the Word. Conviction becomes muted. Joy diminishes. Discernment weakens. We continue going through the motions, but something has been lost.

And sometimes the axe becomes dull through pride. Pride convinces us that we no longer need sharpening. We begin to assume we already know enough, have grown enough, or have arrived. We lose our dependence upon the Lord. Yet the wisest believers are often those most aware of their need for continual growth.

Before swinging the axe, sharpen the edge. Share on X

What do we do when the axe becomes dull?

The good news is that God has not left His people without means of sharpening. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly uses ordinary means to shape, strengthen, and sharpen His disciples. Notice the key ways God sharpens us:

• Through His Word. As 2 Timothy 3 reminds us, the Scripture renews our minds, corrects our thinking, exposes our blind spots in our behavior,  and reminds us of how we are to live day-by-day.
• Through prayer. Prayer reorients our hearts away from self-sufficiency and toward dependence upon Him.
• Through corporate worship. Gathering with God’s people lifts our eyes above the immediate pressures of life and reminds us of eternal realities.
• Through fellowship. Faithful brothers and sisters encourage us, challenge us, and sometimes lovingly confront us when we need correction (and should do this every day).
• Through trials. Although none of us enjoy hardship, God often uses difficulties to refine our character and deepen our trust in Him.
• Through repentance. Confessing sin and turning from it restores fellowship with God and renews spiritual vitality.

For those of you who may be discouraged, fatigued, worn out, or otherwise out of breath spiritually, perhaps the most encouraging lesson of Ecclesiastes 10:10 is that wisdom is available. God provides us wisdom. In the Book of James (New Testament, of course, and a different context), we are promised that when we pray for wisdom, God gives it liberally and without any strings attached (James 1:5).

Are you ready for some additional good news? The woodsman does not need a different tree. He does not need greater strength. He does not need a more favorable environment. He simply needs a sharpened axe.

Likewise, the answer to many of our struggles is not necessarily more activity. Sometimes the answer is found in stepping back long enough to pursue wisdom. This, of course, is not an argument for laziness. Just like the woodsman still has to cut the tree, the Christ-follower still has responsibilities. To use our list from above, the pastor still prepares sermons and serves a congregation. The parent still raises children with all its daily responsibilities. The employee still goes to work and is responsible for the goings-on there. The missionary still goes to the field with all its circumstantial pressures. The task remains.

However, wisdom teaches us to approach the task in a way that honors God and makes the best use of the resources He has given. Wisdom, in this context, is the capacity to take the Bible and apply it in our pressure-filled circumstances. Of course, this begins with regular consumption of the Word of God. To simply ask for wisdom without the intake of the Word only frustrates the process.

Questions to Consider

As I reflect on this verse, several questions come to mind:

• Where am I simply swinging harder?
• Have I confused activity with wisdom?
• What has dulled my edge?
• Which means of grace have I neglected?
• What would it look like for me to pursue sharpening before exerting more energy?

Those are worthwhile questions for every one of us as Christ-followers.

The woodsman who pauses to sharpen his axe may appear to be losing time. In reality, he is preparing to use his time more effectively. The same principle is true spiritually. Sometimes the wisest thing we can do is pause long enough to let God sharpen us through His Word, prayer, worship, fellowship, and repentance. Please consider Solomon’s counsel before you add another commitment, increase your pace, or simply resolve to try harder..

When more effort is not the answer, wisdom may be calling you to sharpen the axe.

When more effort is not the answer, wisdom may be calling you to sharpen the axe. Share on X

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For more study from the Book of Ecclesiastes, let me recommend this blog: Do Not Miss the Wisdom of Ecclesiastes; It is helpful every day!