Proverbs 27:17 (New International Version) states: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”. The King James Version states “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend”. The New Living Translation states “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend”.
I have heard many breakdowns of what this parable may mean. Most have said that the overall meaning is that it is the duty of one man to sharpen or bring out the best in another man and vice versa. While I certainly will not refute that claim, I was still left with the question of how. This question came about because, as many of you may know, iron doesn’t sharpen iron.
In general, rubbing two like pieces of metal together will only result in the production of heat via friction. To sharpen a raw metal, it must encounter another substance that is “harder” and applied at the correct angle to shape and thus sharpen the metal. Typically a stone is used. Various grits of stone may be used to produce the desired effect. With a raw piece of metal, one would start with a low grit stone as its coarseness allows for gross metal removal. As the metal takes shape, one would change to a higher grit stone as these stones allow fine metal removal and thus honing the blade. As the sharpened blade takes shape, the rules shift, as a “harder” substance is no longer mandatory to further sharpen the blade, but the angle by which the substance is applied becomes the telling factor.
This process of sharpening parallels those processes of building, developing, acquiring, raising, etc whatever one may think of. Whether it is building a team, developing a body/mind, acquiring knowledge, or raising a child, the fundamental process is the same. One formulates a base and works off of that base shaping and honing it to get the desired effect. But bear in mind, use the wrong stone or misuse the correct stone and ruin the blade or remain the same. So if iron doesn’t sharpen iron, what is it that the Bible speaks?
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Think about that. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Why is it written if it isn’t so? It is my belief that because it is so. In this NIV translation is a two letter word that places everything in perspective for me and it is the word “As”. Now think about it “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”. In the manner that iron sharpens iron, which it doesn’t, so does one person sharpen another. I pray that this makes sense to all that read this. This is vital. In order to sharpen another, one must have the ability to apply the necessary pressure to shape and hone that entity into a “better” product. If the two are exactly the same, they have nothing to offer one another and as a result they will remain the same, dull. There is no teacher without the student and vice versa.
Remember, use the wrong stone or misuse the correct stone and ruin the blade or remain the same. There are many factors that determine the capacity for one to sharpen another. Remember, with sharpening a blade, it’s not only the grit of the stone but angle that one uses it. Once a razor is sharp, the same leather strap that it can slice into shreds can be used to place the finishing touches on its edge if applied at the correct angle. It is not just about being harder/superior than something/someone to sharpen it/them. The teacher can in fact be sharpened by the student.
Think about this for a moment. There are two teams of three weightlifters. Each team has an individual that dead lifts 225lbs, 315lbs, and 405lbs. Both teams follow the same workout template/program. On team “A” everyone “knows” their place and, though they won’t say it, are content with their positions on the team. They are coached to support each other, but at the same time each of them knows who is #1 and who is #3. On team “B” everyone “knows” their place, but none of them are content with where they are in their standings nor performances, as each of them are vocal about this. They are coached to support each other, push each other, and listen to each other realizing that one day #3 could be #1 and #1 could be #3. On paper these teams look the same, but behind the scenes it’s a no brainer which team has the greatest capacity to sharpen one another and excel as a team.
I pray that each of you see the truth in this. What are you doing to sharpen yourself and those around you? Each decision that you make or do not make, along with each action that you carry out or do not carry out WILL affect your “blade”. Like it or not, this is an undeniable truth to which you may no longer hide from behind a shield of ignorance. This does not mean that you will not sometimes nick your blade, as there is error in being human, but that is no excuse for you not to strive to attain an impeccably sharp edge to your blade. Let this seed of truth plant itself in all areas of your life. Do not compartmentalize it and use it in one realm of life that you may find “easy” and neglect it in another that you may find “hard”. Apply it in ALL areas and watch your collective whole improve.
With that said I leave you with these questions to ponder:
- What is state of your collective blade?
- What are you doing to shape your blade (both bad and good)?
- What is the state of the blades around you?
- What are you doing to shape those blades (both good and bad) around you?
Respect & Honor
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