IRON SHARPENING IRON
Proverbs 27:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
Curt had found an active waterhole and with temps this week in the low 90's it seemed like the perfect place to spend his afternoons. He made a place to sit in some buckbrush and could cover the entire pond. The first night there a great 9 point showed up and he rushed the shot. The second afternoon, far earlier than expected a nice 11 point showed and Curt got it done. We were up until very late getting the meat into coolers on ice.
This morning we gathered to finish the job. After Curt and Micah got the meat boned and bagged I started caping the head. Curt had never done it or seen it done so I did my best to teach him. I started, but then gave Curt the knife and allowed him to finish. I stayed close and we worked together to finish the job right.
The caping goes much faster and safer when the knife is very sharp. We paused at one point and put the edge to a steel to make it sharp and usable again.
Every outdoorsman knows a dull knife is generally more dangerous than a sharp one. Although it seems to be contradictory, a dull blade can actually do more damage to the user.
This is because when a blade is dull, it’s harder to use. Not only does it take more force to actually cut something, but also it’s harder to control. That’s why a dull blade can slice a finger quicker than ot can slice a tomato, and why quality hunting guides often spend hundreds on a quality knife.
Every knife becomes dull with use. The sharp edge breaks down. Cutting around bone as is the case when caping will render a blade ineffective, and on its own, it will never become sharp again. That’s the first truth about sharpening iron: a knife cannot sharpen itself. Nor can something weaker than iron, sharpen iron.
We have a responsibility to sharpen each other, to come alongside each other, especially older men with younger men, to make sure that we remain sharp and useful.
Proverbs 13:20 says, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”
We’ve all had the experience of those friends who inspire us to be better than we currently are, and then there are those friends who don’t bring out any good quality in us at all. A godly Christian friend can sharpen you in areas they are strong and excel. A wise friend can make us wiser. A loving friend can expand your capacity to love. A patient friend can develop patience in us. A biblically knowledgeable friend can enhance your understanding of Scripture.
When we think of sharpening a blade, or sharpening ourselves, it’s always done for a purpose. A guide doesn’t sharpen his knife so it looks better in his belt sheath. Sharpening is done to make it more effective and efficient. And sharpening can only take place when the iron comes in close contact with that which is sharpening it. It must be very close to have any effect.
This is just like God’s children. We are to be sharpened, and to sharpen others, in order to advance the Kingdom of God. Whether we are talking about a knife, a sword or ourselves, sharpening isn’t done for a passive activity. A blade is sharpened to accomplish a purpose.
Men, build a close relationship or relationships with others that need you. Look for opportunities to share your life and strengths with others that need you. By doing this we will build others up, sharing them to be better men, better Christians.
IRON SHAPENS IRON
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