Friend Sharpening Friend

I hate trying to cook with a dull knife so I want to have a good knife sharpener in my kitchen drawer and use it often. 

This particular knife sharpener has three slots and I had to learn the purpose of each slot when I purchased it.

The first slot’s purpose is to deal with damage and to get the dull edge of the knife ready to be well sharpened.

The middle slot is for the actual sharpening – what you would use from day to day to keep the edge just as you like it.

The final slot is ceramic and it’s purpose is to polish and remove and burring that’s built up along the edge. 

Each slot is made of a different material so it can do it’s job as needed.

The Bible speaks about our friends sharpening us when it says:

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:17

Just as the three slots on the knife sharpener perform different functions that are equally necessary to have a sharp knife, so we need different kinds of input from our friend.

We need people in our lives who are willing to speak to the big issues of life that become those character defects that get in the road of effective and loving relationships.

We also need friends and family who are around us on a daily basis who notice things that need to be changed before they become big problems.

And who of us doesn’t appreciate those folks who help us move towards more grace and kindness and generosity of spirit as we see and follow their example.

Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

Proverbs 13:20

Let’s give thanks for those people God has given us to sharpen us in every way we need that today.

Loving God, you are the one who sets things in place that help us know how to be the people we were created to be.  It was always Your plan that we operate in relationship with one another and support each other.

We have so many blind spots and we’d really like to live beyond them as early as possible so we do as little damage to others as we can.  Would you help us today to nurture our friendships and really listen to the wise counsel they bring to our lives so we can live out what You intended when You encouraged us with these words: 

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

Hebrews 10:24

Well, let’s be good friends and sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron.  Have a great day.