Let Yourself Be Sharpened

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17 NIV)

It’s been a while since I have had the opportunity to get into really deep, personal discussion with anyone about spiritual things, my thoughts on life, ways I could grow or change to be more like Jesus. The kinds of relationships in which those discussions can happen take time to build. The irony is that while I know those talks might make me feel uncomfortable, I still want to have them. I want friends who will challenge my ideas, remind me to be more gentle, and help me change into a more loving mother, daughter, sister, friend, and wife.

While not living and present like people are in our lives, books can challenge our thinking and motivate us to be more Christ-like. Good books have inspired great conversations more than a time or two in my life. It is in these discussions about the ideas in books that I find the greatest value. When I have been challenged to change in some way, it is the people around me,  the ones who are watching me, that encourage me to put a plan into action.

Reading the Bible sharpens us. Weighing everything we say and do against its words will let us know if we are following the path of God. Even the Word is not 100 percent clear to us all the time, though, and this is when people can be so valuable.

My husband is always there for me to flesh out questions with. He balances me well and loves me even when I am wrong. Close friends also give me feedback or even challenge me about my decisions. And finally, our small group is made up of people who are invested in growing to look more like Jesus. God uses them to open my eyes and mind to different perspectives.

The truth is that sometimes, I don’t actually want to change. Change can be uncomfortable. Change can be hard. Changing might ask us to upend what our daily lives look like and what our dreams for the future look like, or it might even challenge us in what we believe. We may have to rethink our ideas about who we believe Jesus is and what he desires of us. Therein is the sharpening.

Becoming dull happens naturally over time. We have to purposefully and regularly put ourselves under the sharpener, which will prick our senses and give us greater awareness of the world and the needs around us. Maybe those needs are even our own. Whether we have been neglecting our own care or growth or we have become dull to the world around us, taking ourselves to the sharpener is a good next step.

What might sharpening look like in your life?

Lord, you give us friends, and you give us circumstances that push us toward changes in our hearts to make us more like Jesus. Thank you. Holy Spirit, help us allow the moments that make us uncomfortable to be the moments we allow to grow us. Help us to be present and focus on the changes that need to happen within us to make the person on the outside be someone full of joy, and therefore, someone others want to be around, learn from, and grow with. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 NIV)

“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” (Proverbs 27:6 NIV)

“You are my friends if you do what I command.” (John 15:14 NIV)

Reach for More

Do you have people in your life who can sharpen you? Sometimes this happens organically, but we can also seek out relationships and groups that help us grow. Think through the people in your life and, if you are comfortable being vulnerable with them, ask one or two to tell you honestly if they can see the fruits of your relationship with Jesus in your everyday life. Or, if there is one particular area you would rather begin with, be specific about it. For example, my husband and I wanted to be part of a close-knit community that takes care of one another, in the spirit of the Acts 2 church. We looked at our options and prayed for God to show us what was right. Now we are small group leaders.

Also, look at your circumstances. Are there people around you who could mentor you in some way because you are in close proximity at work, playgroup, your neighborhood, or even something like the gym? Is there someone from a different ethnic background, walk of life, or even political view who could help you broaden your perspective on people who are not just like you? Invite them to coffee, lunch, or dinner so you can get to know them better or just jump and tell them you are hoping to be a sharper person, more aware of the needs and feelings of those around you, and you would like them to give you their perspective on how you can do that!

Carla Clemens enjoys a crazy, beautiful life with her military husband, four sons, and a daughter. A baby interrupts her homeschool days in the best ways, and she is always attempting to live with mindfulness of each moment. She hopes to look at the world and each person in it in light of our amazing Creator, and therefore, to see each moment presented as an opportunity to love and serve him more. Carla relishes time to ponder God’s Word and have quiet moments with him and her coffee. She loves doing life with other mamas and encouraging them to simply be who God has made them to be.

Photograph © Joel Muniz, used with permission