03
Iron Sharpens Iron
Tim Savage15A quarrelsome wife is as annoying
as constant dripping on a rainy day.
16Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind
or trying to hold something with greased hands.
17As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27
Both of these proverbs spoke to me this morning. I agree with verses 15 & 16 mainly because my wife can be like this … no, no, no, just kidding, just seeing if anyone was paying attention. Actually, it’s because my wife is nothing like this. In all of his wisdom, Solomon’s weakness was his wives. First problem, multiple wives. Second problem, he defied God’s instructions and married many that weren’t Hebrew. I’m grateful for a wife that is a life partner to me at home and in ministry. I can only imagine the headaches that Solomon had with wives that had priorities and desires that he didn’t share. Of course, in the end they turned him from God and he finished so very poorly.
The second proverb, iron sharpening iron, was a reminder of the need for each of us to be as strong as metal, to give feedback, counseling, and if necessary to confront, in order to keep our swords sharp. We will lose our effectiveness and jeopardize our fruit if we compromise our thoughts, behavior or ministry. It’s not fun to sharpen and be sharpened, but it’s necessary.
I have people that I must sharpen and I need to have the stamina and courage to do it. It’s so much easier to not to give constructive criticism or correct wrong behavior. Who enjoys confrontation? I learned early in my ministry that it’s necessary and good. That when I confronted in love it was received with understanding and gratitude. Now, many years in to ministry I find that sometimes I’m just too tired to correct, that it takes to much time and energy and I must remember the lesson I learned years ago – that it is necessary and good because in order for our swords to be sharp for battle we need to sharpen each other.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please grant me strength and courage for the long haul. May I take the opportunities You present me to praise good behavior and help correct bad. I give you authority to sharpen me when I need it.
In Jesus name,
Amen
