IRON SHARPENS IRON

As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens
the countenance
of his friend.
Proverbs 27:17

The Christian life is a pilgrimage. At times the road is difficult, and we get lonely. Sometimes we may become sad, or disillusioned, or discouraged. It is at times like these that God will place a friend alongside us. One of God’s most precious gifts to us is friends who encourage us and lovingly challenge us to “keep going”, just as iron sharpens iron.

According to scripture, a friend is one who challenges you to become all that God intends. Jonathan could have succeeded his father to become the next king of Israel, but he loved his friend David, and he encouraged him to follow God’s will – even though it meant Jonathan would forfeit his own claim to the throne (1 Samuel 19:1-7).

The mark of biblical friends is that their friendship draws you closer to Christ. They “sharpen” you and motivate you to do what is right. Furthermore, true friends tell you the truth and even risk hurting your feelings because they love you and have your best interests at heart (Proverbs 27:6).

Be careful in your choice of friends! Jesus chose his closest friends wisely. He did not look for perfect friends, but rather for friends whose hearts were set upon following God.

It is equally important to examine the kind of friend you are to others. As a friend, it is your duty to put the needs of others first (Proverbs 17:17).

Take a moment right now and thank God for the friends He has blessed you with, and then ask God to open your heart and your mind so that you can be more receptive to the way God uses your friends to help you become spiritually mature. Also ask God to give you the right tools and words so that you can be the kind of friend that helps others become more like Christ.

Source: “Experiencing God Day-By-Day; The Devotional and Journal”, by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby ©1997. Entry May 15.

Additional Reading:
Putting Your Brother First
Never Too Busy