True North: Hatchet DaySample

STAY SHARP

I'm so proud of my son. I think he is a marvelous child with a great future. Already, he has mentioned that he wants to read The Hatchet with his son and hand down the hatchet that we picked out together. But, in order for him to do that, he knows he has to take really good care of his gift, his hatchet. He has to learn how to sharpen the blade and condition the handle. He is aware that constant use, will require continual work to maintain its integrity. But a hatchet isn't a promise you keep on the shelf.

Gideon didn't have such a vision. Judges 8:4 says "And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing." They were worn out from their recent battles. Being exhausted by what they had accomplished, they probably weren't as mentally and spiritually sharp as they had been previously. In fact, for the remainder of Judges 8, Gideon doesn't consult the Lord on any decisions he makes.

At this point, the Lord had fulfilled His promise to Gideon. He had used Gideon to free the Israelites from the Midianite rule. The Israelites were so excited and proud of Gideon that they actually offered him the kingship of Israel. Gideon denied the kingship, but instead, took the gold from the Midianites, which represented the success of the promise God gave him and turned it into an idol. Judges 8:27b "and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family."

We will always create a snare for ourselves when we worship the promise instead of the promise-keeper. When we reach that job that God has promised, do we forget who provided it? When we break that addiction, do we forget who freed us? As Gideon did, we often get dulled by the exhaustion of what we've been through. It's easier to let our blade, our promise get dull rather than continue to work on staying sharp for the Lord.

Gideon's mistake led to all of Israel turning back to idol worship after his death. Think of how different it could have been if he had stayed sharp for the Lord. We must keep the Promise-Keeper in our praise, not the spoils of the promise. That is how we keep generations praising His name.

Are there any promises in your life that you're worshipping instead of the promise-keeper? Is there anything God has used you to accomplish and now you're taking credit for it? If so, it's time to sharpen your blade and work on the integrity of your promise, otherwise, it might just fall apart.