The Four Men Gifted the Rigger's Hatchet

The first man was given a rigger’s hatchet, and he built and built with it. Monuments, ships, houses, churches, and hospitals. His name was known far and wide for his building. But he never fought the hordes of hell that plagued the land, and he died. And his beautiful building died with him.

The second man was given a rigger’s hatchet. Having heard of the first man, the second man fought and fought with it. He defeated evil men and monsters and hellish hordes. His name was known far and wide for his fight. But he never built anything for his family and his community to dwell in, and he died. And his feats of fighting died with him.

The third man was given a rigger’s hatchet. Having heard of the first and second men. The 3rd man studied hard, laboring seriously in books and courses and practices and tests. He kept his rigger’s hatchet sharp and ready for building and fighting. Year in and year out, he waited for the perfect opportunity to build the perfect dwellings, and fight the fight to end all fighting. Practicing and perfecting his skills until he died and his skills died with him.

The fourth man was given a rigger’s hatchet. He never knew the first three men, but he saw what the rigger’s hatchet was for, and he dedicated the gift and all he owned to the glory of God. He joyfully, and a bit clumsily built a modest home, with more imperfections than perfections, and God blessed him with a modest wife and three children. An evil fiend came to steal these blessings, having no fighting skill, he clumsily fought the fiend off. He fought harder because he loved his family, not because he hated the enemy. When the fighting was over, the evil fiend broke his femur and almost took his life. Over the years, he limped through the building of a church, which the Lord blessed with a minister and a communion of saints. These families joyfully learned from the man, and the man joyfully learned from the families.

When a hellish monster started devouring the congregation, he stood firm and killed the beast with just three blows from the sharp side of his gift. Lastly, the man, alongside his congregation, used the hammer and hatchet to build a glorious community, and he fought the hordes from hell that meant to burn it all down from the start. When the man died, a community was building and fighting by his side, and they did so, glorifying God and enjoying Him forever.

“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” Psalm 127:1

“Praise be to the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war, and my fingers for the fight.” Psalm 144:1

May you build AND fight for Christ’s Kingdom, giving all glory to God and enjoying Him in the process.