Sharpen Your Ax!

Some years ago, a young man approached the foreman of a logging crew and asked for a job. “That depends,” replied the foreman. “Let’s see you cut down this tree.” The young man stepped forward and skillfully cut down a great tree. Impressed, the foreman exclaimed, “Start Monday!” Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday rolled by, and Thursday afternoon, the foreman approached the young man and said, “You can pick up your paycheck on the way out today.” 

Startled, he replied, “I thought you paid on Friday.” “Normally we do,” answered the foreman, “but we’re letting you go today because you’ve fallen behind. Our daily cutting charts show that you’ve dropped from first place on Monday to last on Wednesday.”  “But I’m a hard worker,” the young man objected. “I arrive first, leave last, and even have worked through my coffee breaks!” The foreman, sensing the boy’s integrity, thought for a minute and then asked, “Have you been sharpening your ax?” The young man replied, “I’ve been working too hard to take the time.”

I know this is a simple story, but it has profound implications. One significant implication would be that planning comes before execution. The young man focused on execution (chopping wood), but he failed to plan (sharpening his ax). By focusing on planning, he would have been prepared to chop wood consistently and gain the approval of his employer. Another implication would be that planning shows a willingness to look ahead and consider the possible outcome of not planning. If the young man in the story had looked ahead and considered the possible outcome of chopping wood with a dull ax, he may have taken time to plan by keeping his ax sharp.  As Christian leaders and followers of Jesus Christ, we must keep our axes sharp by planning for the effective execution of God’s divine plan and purpose for our lives.

I am in the Fall Semester of the third year of my Ph.D. program. I am taking two courses (one of which is LSP 909 Organizational Theory and Development taught by Dr. Michael J. Anthony). Dr. Michael is an organization and management guru and a prolific writer. We are reading two of his books this semester. In one of them there is a section on planning where Michelle Anthony contributes to the discussion regarding strategic planning. She argues that God is a strategic planner. In at least two passages in Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, we can see this to be true.

In Ephesians 1:4, Paul writes, “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”  I would also add Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:11 where he wrote, “This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.” When we read these verses, in light of Genesis 3, we know that “God’s promise” in verse 15 (known as the protoevangelium) was not a reaction to Adam and Eve’s sinful disobedience in the Garden of Eden. According to Paul, God had already strategically planned the details of our salvation in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:4). Thus, God is the eternal and ultimate strategic planner. We, as followers of Christ, should follow in our Father’s footsteps and also become strategic planners.

In addition to arguing for God as a strategic planner, Anthony also shares six arguments for strategic planning posited by Henry Klopp in his book, The Ministry Playbook: Strategic Planning for Effective Churches. I have provided the six arguments below:

Argument 1: Because we are stewards. Ultimately, God knows that He determines outcomes. Even though this aspect of life is out of our control, as faithful stewards (1 Cor. 4:1), God holds us responsible for our part in whatever plan He works in our lives. We will never haphazardly become good stewards.

Argument 2: Because we are dealing with limited resources. Strategic planning helps us determine how best to manage those resources and trust God, who is our divine provider, to make up the difference (Gen. 22:14).  

Argument 3: Because failing to plan is planning to fail. Contrary to what some think, planning does not stop nor limit God from working in our lives. By planning, we acknowledge God’s sovereign right to be in full control of every aspect of our lives.

Argument 4: Because of the compelling agendas we face. Strategic planning keeps us focused on what is most important to the Lord (Phil. 3:13).

Argument 5: Because of the need to clarify assumptions. When we engage in strategic planning, we have an opportunity to turn assumption into valuable knowledge for better decision-making.  

Argument 6: Because it forces churches to deal with the issue of change. Strategic planning keeps the reality of change before the leaders and congregation, which reminds everyone that change is a natural occurrence.

The six arguments offer sufficient reasons for why we should think and act strategically. By doing so, we will keep our axes sharp to effectively execute God’s divine purpose for our lives, churches, and ministries.