Ecclesiastes 10:10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. The writer of this book had gone where the Blessed Master went, into the carpenter's shop. And there as he looked about him he saw this — that it is not always the man who works hardest who does most: that the workman who had a blunt tool must sharpen it, or he must work harder if he would keep pace with the others. I. HERE IS A LESSON ON SERVICE. Iron is the very emblem of service. The stone age is prehistoric, uncivilized and savage; the golden age is but a dream; the iron age is the true age. Think of the plough, the sword, the thousand uses of iron; the huge machinery with which men master the earth and lighten labour, the modern shipping, and above all, in these later times, the pen. These things build up our civilization and our strength. Iron may stand as the fittest emblem of service. Shall the dead stones be capable of such high uses and such gracious ends, and are we alone to be of no account? Is there no power that can uplift us and enrich us for worth and blessedness? For us there must be possibilities of good and blessing. For us somewhere, somehow, there must be high ends and glorious purposes — the dullest, darkest, deadest of us. The iron is enough to proclaim it. II. HERE IS A LESSON ON FITNESS FOR SERVICE. The iron gets blunt — that you cannot help. What you can help and must help is this — that it do not remain blunt. Let it be a matter of conscience with us that we be ever at our best for our Lord. Do you ask how shall the iron be sharpened? The wise man gives us the method. "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." In this lonely London the sight of a friendly face, the touch of a kindly hand, the sound of a cheery voice is a very whetstone of the spirit. Yet better than the man's prescription for dulness is contact and communion with the Friend of Friends, the Lord Himself. Nothing else will keep us fit for service. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Contact and communion with Jesus Christ alone can keep us fit for service. Then, again, let there be a daily surrender of ourselves to Him for service. III. SOME CONSOLATION FOR BLUNT FOLKS. If the iron be blunt, what then? Well, you must use more strength. Alas, some of us sigh within ourselves, "I am not made of fine material: I cannot take a keen edge: I am not one of your very clever people. No genius am I at anything, but only a plain blunt tool. I see the steel polished and graven; the flashing sword: and I know I shall never be like that." Well, make up for your dulness by your energy; and say, "If I have not so many gifts, I must get more grace. If I am lacking in skill and learning, I will be richer in love." Some tools are the better for not being oversharp. He who was the carpenter still needs hammers as well as chisels and planes. Only give thyself to Him. (M. G. Pearse.) Parallel Verses KJV: If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. |
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