Stop Chopping

By Jordan Biel

If you’re reading this, I imagine you’re like me and you want to be as effective as possible. We all want God to say to us, “Well done good and faithful servant.” We want Him pleased with us. After all, we’re leaders in His Kingdom. So often though, we get caught up in the whirlwind of daily and weekly tasks, that we don’t do something essential.

“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, NKJV).

Biblical wisdom says that you won’t be as effective or productive with a dull axe, yet you’ll be able to cut down many more trees with a sharpened axe. Sadly, many leaders don’t stop to sharpen their axes. They just keep chopping.

The only way you can evaluate the sharpness of your axe is to stop chopping. 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 the Father and let Him ask you, “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.” Leaders who don’t take the time to sharpen the axe simply aren’t as effective as they could be. If you’re always doing and never learning, your axe is getting dull. If you’re always working in your ministry or company and never on it, your axe is getting dull. Usually, though, you don’t know it. You simply know it’s getting harder to chop the wood. A sharp axe makes a happy chopper. You’ll feel and be more effective if you’ll stop chopping.

My humble suggestions for what that means:

Sabbath. Take at least three full days to be completely alone with God and your thoughts. Do this every four months and, at minimum, annually. It takes a day just rid your mind of its 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” by doing things that can be automated.

Delegate. Empowering someone gives them upward movement in your organization and gives you time to dream again and enjoy your family and friends. Life isn’t just about all the stuff you’re doing, it’s about people!