As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
This is one of many verses in the Bible that talks to us about things that might not feel the best. This verse isn’t the only one that speaks to us about sharpening our lives in this manner, but it’s probably the most familiar. It may be one of those Scriptures we’ve read for years without actually thinking through the ramifications of what it might actually mean in our everyday lives. I have always been interested in woodworking as a hobby. As I began to purchase planes, chisels, and saws…and watch videos about their proper use and care…I began to find a lot of content surrounding the sharpening of said implements. The instructors spent what seemed like an irrational amount of time detailing how to sharpen, let’s say, a chisel. It became clear to me, they believed in the concept of iron sharpening iron. Or in this case, some sort of abrasive sharpening hardened steel. I learned quickly that sharpening can be an exceedingly time-consuming task, particularly when a chisel is brand new. But you see, the concept of iron sharpening iron implies using at least two pieces of iron. It would be impossible for one tool to become sharper without the presence of the other. Left isolated, both instruments would be dull and quite useless. This simple verse illustrates an important biblical principle. God expects us to live and serve in a community of other believers, and He desires for us to build loving and grow in relationships with others. Surrounding ourselves with godly people who serve in our lives both as encouragers and correctors is a good thing. They may be used to sharpen our lives by faithfully helping us see some of the rough areas that are not yet as well-honed as God wants them to be. When we have one, or more, of those people in our lives, we should thank God that He has seen fit to bring them to us to help sharpen us into tools that fit for His purposes.
Spiritual Steve 