A Proper Tool

Read Proverbs 27

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:17

Imagine a carpenter who has a dull saw blade and takes it to his workshop for sharpening. What does he use to restore its usefulness? He knows that a piece of wood, a bar of soap, or some other “soft” item is not going to do the job. If he wants to sharpen his saw, he needs a sharpener that is made of steel—strong and tough.

Like that craftsman, we can improve our usefulness to God by having friends who sharpen us. “Don’t be fooled . . . for ‘bad company corrupts good character’ ” (1 Corinthians 15:33). We may choose to hang around those who flatter us, those who deceive us, or those who manipulate us, but in the end, they cannot “sharpen” us. They are soft, and so will we be. However, if our friends are pursuing godliness and desiring God’s highest, then they will sharpen us, as surely as iron sharpens iron. Let’s pursue relationships that bring us closer to God and challenge us to live for him alone.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Real friendships keep us sharp.

Today, Lord, help me to learn godliness from those around me. Teach me how to be a friend that would sharpen others.