Iron Sharpens Iron Proverbs 27:17
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pro.27
Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.
2 tim.2
Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
There is an interesting and perhaps convicting illustration of both friendship and accountability found in , “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (NASB). In Old Testament times, one iron blade was used to sharpen another blade until both became more effective tools. This visual aid of a common implement of work or war provides a practical model for many human relationships.
Iron Sharpens Iron: A Principle of Relationship
Iron Sharpens Iron: A Principle of Relationship
The concept of “iron sharpening iron” obviously implies at least two pieces of iron. It would be impossible for one tool to become sharper without the presence of the other. Left alone, both blades would be dull and quite useless. This simple Proverb illustrates an important biblical principle. God expects us to live and serve in a community of other believers , and He desires for us to build loving and growing relationships with others
not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
hebrews 10:25
hebrews 10:25
Life Application:
not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Just like iron sharpening iron, so two friends can sharpen each other. But when sharpening takes place, sparks inevitably fly. It's a part of genuine friendship. Don't respond with hostility. Instead just realize you're being sharpened. It's hard on you, but good for you. (Jon Courson's Application Commentary - Jon Courson's Application Commentary Old Testament Volume 2.)
The process of helping someone else improve their effectiveness absolutely requires a positive relationship. Earlier in this same chapter ( it says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” We know this concept to be true. It is much better to accept Godly advice or even constructive criticism from someone we know, someone we love, and someone we know that cares about us, than it is from a stranger or simple acquaintance. We want to know that the person giving us the counsel has our best interest at heart. Friends may indeed “wound” us at times, but we can understand and appreciate their genuine motives. That’s why it is so important for each of us to build growing relationships with others in life. We all need people who can help us rub off the hard edges and who honestly have our best interests in mind when they do it. There are times when these sharpening conversations, even from loving friends, can come across as harsh, mean, or judgmental. But it definitely helps to know that these people care and that they have a genuine interest in helping us improve.
hebrews
Iron Sharpens Iron: A Principle of Accountability
Iron Sharpens Iron: A Principle of Accountability
“Iron sharpening iron” also requires a level of accountability – or a personal inclination to allow significant others look close enough into our lives so that they can see the specific weaknesses or problems areas. Genuine accountability demands that the person receiving the counsel or advice is willing to allow the friends to look for the vulnerabilities in their lives, to accept what they point out, and then do something to fix it when they hear it.
Iron Sharpens Iron: A Principle of Motivation
Iron Sharpens Iron: A Principle of Motivation
Let’s look at again, “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” This select Old Testament proverb contains an object of the sharpening action. One person can be used by God to help the other. The incentive here was to be mutually beneficial. Both pieces of iron must work together to accomplish the desired intent. That was the motivation. Both items needed sharpening.
The word sharpens in the first line means literally to put a thin keen edge or fine point on a piece of metal. Sharpens is used figuratively here to mean “to make or cause a person to be keen in perception, quick witted, or full of energy.” REB translates “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens the wits of another.” This figure of one person “sharpening” another is not natural in some languages and some adjustment must be made; for example, “As iron … so one person awakens the mind of another” or “… so one person makes another person have keen senses.” The whole saying is translated in one language as
• People use an iron tool to sharpen iron.
In the same way one person helps the thinking of another person.
This leads us to a very valuable component of growing close personal relationships with other people. Relationships are never to be a one-way street. God-honoring, inter-personal connections are designed to help both parties grow in Christ-like maturity. Again, this process is not just pointing out perceived weaknesses in someone else. This sharpening must come with a heart-felt desire to help the other person and in the process receive some input that leads to personal improvement as well.
As with the translation of other similes in this chapter, it may be good to reverse the order of the lines; for example,
• people always learn from each other,
just as they use a knife to sharpen a knife.
(William David Reyburn and Euan McG. Fry, A Handbook on Proverbs, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 2000), 580–581.)
William David Reyburn and Euan McG. Fry, A Handbook on Proverbs, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 2000), 580–581.
William David Reyburn and Euan McG. Fry, A Handbook on Proverbs, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 2000), 580–581.
William David Reyburn and Euan McG. Fry, A Handbook on Proverbs, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 2000), 580–581.
This leads us to a very valuable component of growing close personal relationships with other people. Relationships are never to be a one-way street. God-honoring, inter-personal connections are designed to help both parties grow in Christ-like maturity. Again, this process is not just pointing out perceived weaknesses in someone else. This sharpening must come with a heart-felt desire to help the other person and in the process receive some input that leads to personal improvement as well.
Iron Sharpens Iron: A Principle of Willingness
Iron Sharpens Iron: A Principle of Willingness
The final principle also works in cooperation with the preceding one. Yes, both parties should want what is best for each other; but to build on that concept, there is an additional step. Whenever a good friend sincerely wants to help us grow and it is obvious that they truly want what is best for us, then it is imperative for us to accept their counsel, advice, or constructive criticism with an attitude of willingness and acceptance of what they are telling us.
There are times when even the most well-meaning friends can point out weak, even dangerous trends in our lives. However, that person, no matter how close of a friend they are, may not understand or know what exact things that should be done to fix the situation. That’s why situations like this should drive us back to the life-changing truth of God’s word.