Habit #7: Effective People and Families “Sharpen the Saw.”

1. Spend quality time regularly doing things that will strengthen and sharpen:

a. Yourself; b. Your family (not the individuals in the family, but the family unit)

- Literally Sawing Trees = a person who saws constantly (w/out stopping) will never chop trees as well as a person who stops regularly to sharpen their saw.

B. Sharpening the Saw has ALWAYS been God's will for you (and your family)

1. Mark 12:29 = Great Commandment - Love God w/heart, soul, mind, strength

EMOTIONAL SELF (keeping your relationships to others sharp)

SPIRITUAL SELF (keeping your relationship to God sharp)

INTELLECTUAL SELF (keeping your mind sharp)

PHYSICAL SELF (keeping your body healthy)

D. Problem: Sharpening the Saw requires extreme Self-Awareness and Discipline

1. Self-Awareness = the ability to monitor and accurate assess yourself in terms of emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical health (and illness)

2. Discipline = ability to do what is important, in the face of what is urgent

E. Faithful Christians always striving for self-awareness and discipline

1. Luke 10:38-42, "Mary has chosen what is necessary..."

2. Mt 6:33, "Seek 1st God's Kingdom and His righteousness..."

3. Mt 7:13-14, "Choose the narrow path that leads to life..."

a. Daily Devotional - How are you personally "sharpened" by a devotional?

b. Sabbath - How are you (and your family) sharpened by a true Sabbath? F. Why Sabbath? One point - for you (and your family) to sharpen the saw

1. Ex 20:8, "You shall keep the Sabbath holy. Both you + your sons/daughters

- Holy = "Consecrated to God, set apart (from the other 6 days), separate"

a. If it's "required," then it is neither "rest" nor "holy"

b. If it looks like what you (or they) do the other 6 days, it is not holy

c. What does an ideal "holy" Sabbath look like to you and your kids?

G. Other Ways you can Sharpen the Family Saw

- Remember: Doing things for individuals in the family, is not doing things for the family. Sharpening the Saw for the family is relationship-nurturing for all. Such as: Weekly Family dinners (no electronics); Celebrate Birthdays and Holidays together; Family Retreats (again, not just for the individuals/kids, but for the family unit); Work Together on Tasks/Chores; Serve Together (the poor), etc.