The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about friendships:
Proverbs 27:17 (NASBStr)
Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another.
A proverb is a way to teach wisdom in a simple way with a word picture, or with contrasting or complimentary statements. This proverb gives us insight on how our relationships with others are used to perfect us. The first line gives us a practical illustration of the truth of the second line. If you have ever seen a chef sharpen two knives you can get this illustration. The two bladed instruments are scraped together in a vigorous manner and both will never be the same as a result. The sounds of metal on metal may sound harsh, but the results are practical. Both are now ready for the job they were intended to perform. So too it is with us and our friends. God uses them to sharpen us and us to sharpen them. The contact is noisy at times. It may seem harsh, but the result (if we allow it to happen) is that we are better equipped for what God needs us to do for Him. The next time you are in conflict with someone ask yourself this question: Is God using this person to “sharpen” me so He can use me more fully? Iron sharpens iron!
If you have ever gone to an art museum or an art exhibit, you no-doubt have been captivated by a great sculpture. You may have walked around the piece to take in every angle as you admire the curves, cuts and crevices. If it is in a museum there may be soft music playing in the background. Perhaps the artist name plague is attached and lighting is used to bring out some of the more important aspects of the piece. But, what you see is not what was. If you were to be transported back to the studio where the artist crafted the piece you would see a different scene. Suppose you were in the studio when the artist made the last touch with his/her hammer and chisel. If you were to pan back at that point, what would you see? You would not only see the same statue you will eventually see in the art museum, you will also see the material that won't be taken to the museum. You would see in the studio all the pieces that were cut off to shape the master piece now on display. That "chiseling" is what we are told happens between friends in the above proverb. Just as hard steal meets hard marble to sculpture a masterpiece, so, too, does one man "chisel" his friend. And, like the artist in the studio, there can be a mess as that process is carried out. It is doubtful that many men/women love the chiseling process. It is typically loud, annoying and dusty. Yet, you don't get a masterpiece without the hammer and chisel. God is in the process of chiseling us to look like the image of His Son. His hammer and His chisel is often our spouse, our friends, and, yes, even our enemies. As one man sharpens another, God is using that chiseling process to shape us into the image of His Son. God could just leave us alone. But, that would not be His grace. Without the chiseling process what would we look like? If the artist never takes a hammer and chisel to the marble, what do you have? A rock. It is only under the sharpening of one to another that God shows us His grace and reveals to us and in us His love for us. No one likes the chisel. But, we should invite others to allow God to show us His grace through the chiseling process. Few of us like the chiseling process to look and feel like a jack-hammer, however. So, if we are asked to chisel another, we ought to be careful with the privilege they are given us in their lives, or, be sensitive to the fact that God is using us in their lives. When iron sharpens iron, sparks fly. But remember: When an axe is sharpened on a wheel both the axe and the wheel are reshaped. If we have the honor to chisel another, they should be chiseling us back, as well.
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