Stop Chopping
I imagine you’re like me and you want to be as effective as possible. Nobody wants to feel like we’re wasting our time, right? We all want God to say to us “Well done good and faithful servant...” We want Him pleased with us. If you’re a manager, you’re a leader. If you’re a pastor, you’re a leader. If you’re a parent, you’re a leader; you’re leading your children! We’re leaders in His Kingdom building it for HIS glory. So often though, we get caught up in the whirlwind of daily and weekly tasks, that we don’t do something essential.
"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 NKJV).
Biblical wisdom says that you won’t be as effective or productive with a dull ax., Yet, you'll be able to cut down many more trees with a sharpened ax. Sadly, many leaders don’t stop chopping; they just keep working.
You have to stop chopping to evaluate the sharpness of the ax! You have to get away and pray. Evaluate. Assess. Let God’s Spirit speak to you as to the processes and systems you’re using and the goals you’re chasing. We’re all busy! I get it! I have demands on me as a lead pastor and business owner and I know you do too! But STOP. Take a few days with Father and let Him ask... “What are you doing and why are you doing it?” “Who are you empowering?”
In the business world this has come to be known as “deep work” in part anyway. Leaders who don’t take the time to sharpen the ax simply aren’t as effective as they could be. If you’re always doing and never learning, your ax is getting dull. If you’re always working in your ministry or company and never on it, your ax is getting dull. Usually though, you don’t know it. You simply know it’s getting harder to chop the wood. A sharp ax makes a happy chopper you could say. You’ll feel and be more effective if you’ll stop chopping.
My humble suggestion of what that means:
Sabbath. Take at least 3 full days to be completely alone with God and your thoughts. Do this every 4 months and at minimum, annually. It takes a day just rid your mind of it’s normal neuropathways. Ask God what He wants from you. Surrendering to His will is essential for every disciple, especially leaders.
Read. Block off two hours weekly to read. I do one hour each Monday at my office then at least one hour at home per week. You’d be surprised how much you can learn and grow in these two hours. Also, you’ll start to enjoy it and find yourself reading more and more per week, giving a snowball effect to your knowledge and wisdom.
Automate. Leverage automations and tech tools to save you time. Often, you’re “chopping” doing things that can be automated.
Delegate. Empowering someone gives them upward movement in your organization and gives you time to dream again, enjoy your family and friends. Life isn’t just about all the stuff you’re doing, it’s about people!