Sharp

“Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17


The most dangerous tool in the kitchen is a dull knife. When the blade is dull, you have to use more strength to cut, and if there is a slip, the cut is more like a gash. With a very sharp knife, cutting is easier, and accidents actually tend to be less severe. Sharp tools make for easier and more efficient work, and you know what, they make the job more enjoyable, too.

A point to clarify, sharpening a knife requires that the blade come into contact with something harder than itself, such as a stone, or steel-based object. However, a blade can be KEPT sharp by regular contact with something of similar material and sharpness.

So then the application quickly moves to believers. We, too, require sharpening. So let’s move through the analogy. We begin as dull blades, and progressive sharpness occur by our contact with God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says this Word is sharper than any two-edged sword. In the language of that day the meaning is clear, nothing is sharper! So if we as believers are serious about becoming useful, tools to be used by God for His glory, then we need to sharpen, we need to be regular students of His Word.

Remember, though, James 1:22 exhorts us to be do-ers, as well as hearers of that Word, so we are to be striving to be those useful tools. As we do so, struggles of the world, life here and now, and so on, can take its toll, “dull the blade” so to speak. We cannot allow that to happen! This is where I believe our relationship with other believers comes into play. If we associate ourselves with others who are striving to stay active and sharp, we will be in regular contact with other “objects” of similar material and sharpness, and in doing so, we “keep our edge”, pardon the pun.

A new believer needs to dive into God’s Word and become useful, and he/she also needs regular interaction with others sharper than him/herself. The strong, mature believer must be careful to not get complacent (1 Cor. 10:12), staying sharp.

Finally, consistent sharpening involves cutting away metal and honing a new edge, exposing new material to be used in cutting. The believer must be teachable enough to accept correction and reproof, to honestly admit failings, and then be willing to be sharpened, to put on that new self, over and over again. And that correction only comes from the Word and by Biblical challenge and encouragement from fellow believers.

So the expectation is clear. Get sharp and stay sharp!

Praying today for someone to be sharpened by God’s Word and my activity, and for sharpening for myself from that same Word and those around me.