Iron Sharpens Iron

Proverbs says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Now, as I think about that verse, for iron to sharpen iron, that means one piece of it is dull and needs sharpened.

That also means one piece is sharp and ready for use.

I’m sure we’ve all had moments where we felt sharp and able to help another friend. And I’m sure we’ve also ALL had moments where we are the one who needs the help, needs the sharpening.

Let me share my “dull and needs sharpened” moment with you from the other day.

Silly yet serious.

Silly yet, I know, sharing the moment can remind and sharpen us all.

I lost my wallet. It was not in my purse and I knew I’d had it that morning.

I ran crazily through the house thinking one of the girls took it. Nothing. Checked the van, the driveway. Nothing. Talk about scared. I had a deposit in it that we could not loose.

My heart was pounding.

Jeremy was home and we were about to leave for dinner. We decided to stop at the church, since that was where I’d seen it last. I felt sick all the way to the church. When we got there, we ran in… Jeremy checked a meeting room and I went to the offices…

A friend was in the office area. I told her what I was missing and she said, “You know, when I loose something, the first thing I do is pray. I tell God that he knows where it is and ask Him to show me.” and she smiled.

Ouch. I had to tell her that I hadn’t even stopped for a second to pray!

Ouch again! What? I hadn’t prayed?

My wallet was missing and I hadn’t prayed??

Her reminder was perfect. I needed to pray. Actually, she prayed and I thanked her.

I left the offices feeling sharpened. Feeling challenged. Feeling ready.

I found my wallet a few minutes later in a place I never would have thought to look. Not the office, not a meeting room… I found my missing wallet in the bathroom. Yes, the bathroom.

I tell you this story, this “dull and need sharpened” moment because I spent about 30 minutes of craziness running on my own strength, memory and ability. I didn’t go to God. I didn’t acknowledge Him first.

It took a friend to point that out to me.

As Iron Sharpens Iron

I thought of this sharpening, personal story as I read Hebrews 10:22-36. Hebrews 10 is a chapter that holds deep, strong words. Be prepared when you read them. This passage does not hold back. The chapter is titled, “A Call to Persevere.”

Using words like “Let us hold unswervingly…spur one another on…Let us not give up…you need to persevere.”

It isn’t easy doing good or remembering to read the Bible or even pray. It isn’t always easy sharpening each other or spurring one another on in our faith. It isn’t easy to examine every moment of the day. But, it is worth it.

It is what we, Spirit-filled followers of Christ, are called to do.

We won’t be perfect. We will continue to make mistakes but in the power of the Holy Spirit, we can move forward one day at a time.

We have to start building a life that is in step with God’s Word. It starts small. It starts with one thing and then another.

One friend taking the time to sharpen us in the Lord. As iron sharpens iron.

Ask God to examine your heart and reveal to you where you are out of step.

Ask God to send people into your life to sharpen your faith and deepen your character and to challenge your relationship with Jesus.

Ask God to send people into your life that you can sharpen as you grow in your faith.

Do you have a “dull and need sharpened” moment to share?

Who is your friend, you iron sharpens iron friend?

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