Has Our Axe Head Flown Off?

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. ~Psalms 127 KJV

Many years ago a small congregation outgrew their meeting house. The young men decided they would go down by the river and cut logs to build the meeting house bigger. 

"Preacher, come with us. We're going to cut trees for the meeting house." The young men were eager to help grow the congregation in any way they could. They knew if they built it others would come. 

The young men and the preacher carried their axes to the river and began to work. One of the young men worked furiously. He didn't notice when his axehead began to wiggle. He didn't notice when the axehead began to slip. He didn't notice the handle wobble with each strike. Suddenly the axehead flew from the handle into the river below. 

"Preacher, Preacher, come quick. The axehead flew off into the water. I borrowed it from my neighbor. It's not even mine! Come help."

"Brother, where did it go in the water?" asked the preacher. 

The young man pointed to the spot where the axehead slipped into the deep murky water. Taking his own ax, the preacher cut down a sapling and threw it into the water. Suddenly the water began to ripple. The axehead rose to the top, bobbing like a cork on top of the water. "Go get it." The preacher told the young man, who reached out his hand and took it. (Based on II Kings 6:1-7)

How busy are we? We go to church and take our families, but how busy are we? Is the very foundation of our faith being loosened? Is it wobbly, shaky, and about to fly apart? When is the last time you prayed together before a meal? When is the last time you sat together, reading God's word, discussing it, praying together as a family? 

These are tough questions, but ones that may need to be asked in this unusual time we live in. I often hear parents say, "Well we listen to a devotion on the way to work and school. We pray together in the car." That may sound good but is it working so furiously, trying to do  God's work that we're not watching as the axehead of the family wiggles lose?  Can we look into our children's eyes as we watch the road? Are a verse and a devotion the same as reading the Bible together? Is the entire family together? Is there time for discussion? 

I'm being tough but families are falling apart. Children are losing faith. We as adults may have lost faith as well. The tree the preacher threw into the water, could that symbolize the stem of Jesse? (Isaiah 11:1) We need to make sure we are not just working but working with the intention to instill the foundations of God in our children. The young man who lost his ax was working furiously but wasn't paying attention to the way he was performing the work. 

Being intentional in our work for Jesus will bring forth the fruit we want in our families. 

Father, help us not just work hard but work intentionally to put you first into the lives of our families. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Hey Kids:

How are you performing your work? Do you take time to make sure it's correct, it's neat, it's quality? 

I'm watching a family of chickadees from my kitchen window. Last week the father bird brought food to the nest. He landed on the wire holding my feeder and looked in all directions making sure there was no predator watching as he popped into the birdhouse with food for the mother. 

This week I noticed both birds working constantly bringing food for the chicks that have hatched. Still, they land and look before entering the birdhouse. They are intentional in keeping their family safe and fed. 

What can you notice about God's Creation that can help you learn to be more intentional in all you do?