Ecclesiastes 10:8-11 – Live life discerningly

There is a saying that warns us to be careful how we do life. It says “What goes around comes around.” This axiom tells us that a person’s actions or behaviors will boomerang and eventually come back to haunt him or her, even if it is indirectly. This sounds like the same advice given by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 10:8. He says, “He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.” Living in this fallen world requires that we be careful with each decision we make. Be sure to walk in tune with godly principles carved out from God’s eternal Word. To walk wisely means we have to be watchful and be on a lookout for danger.

In life, it’s true that every foolish decision exacts a high cost from life. We have all seen how one decision, to go for a momentary thrill, causes a person a whole life of misery. This is true of addiction or lust or ambition. An addict goes for a fix to find some relief and ends up being hooked to a life of total dependency on drugs. A secret tryst may be thrilling for a moment but traps a person for life in an illicit relationship, a soul-tie that’s hard to break, though not impossible. Yes, he who digs a pit will fall into it. We have seen how homes, or friendships, or careers destroyed, because of one crazy decision.

Verse 9 enhances the call to be careful and wise in whatever we undertake to do. Using illustrations of one who quarries stones and a logger who cuts trees, Solomon urges care in doing one’s work. Not to do so exposes one to the risk that comes with the job. Then using two more analogies, we are shown two better ways of being effective in life. Verses 10-11 call for balance in work life. The first part speaks of the wisdom of sharpening one’s ax-head. It will require more strength to cut wood when a logger’s ax-head is blunt. Wisdom dictates that he should take time to sharpen the cutting edge of his ax. Otherwise, regardless of the extra time he spends wielding his ax, less wood will be cut. If he takes the time to sharpen his ax-head, it will be translated into more wood being cut with less time. Take note that living a life without making time to renew our relationship with God leaves us jaded and ineffective. We need to take time to renew our cutting edge in spiritual living.

It is said that balance is the key to success. While it is needful to take time to sharpen one’s cutting edge, there is also a need to strike while the iron is hot. Remember that there is a season for everything. There are times we must wait with patience and at the same time, we need to discern the moment and seize the opportunity. Verse 11 tells us that. It is vitally important for a snake charmer to seize the moment when his snake is charmed to do whatever tricks required of him. If he does not do what he needs to do at the right time he may be bitten by the snake. In some issues in life, timing is the essence. A foolish delay is a wasted opportunity. There are times we will need more time to prepare and at other times we need to seize the opportunity or it will be gone forever.

Wisdom teaches us to identify the difference and to act accordingly. With wisdom, we will be on time and never too early nor too late. Daily we must take time to wait on the Lord and be connected to Him. But just as important is the need to be discerning and work while it is yet day, for the night will come when no man can work. Let’s learn from Jesus. He would seek the face of God a great while before dawn. And while He journeyed down Capernaum in the day, He seized every opportunity to do the will of the Heavenly Father. And so must we!