SHARPEN SOMEONE
Hebrews 13:7
Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
My grandson Micah and I had been invited to hunt with Paul in Indiana a year ago for turkeys. It was a trip of "firsts" for us and we were very excited. Paul brought us in while it was still dark and we waited with great anticipation for daylight. We set up in the dark and waited... soon gobblers sounded off in the distance. It was mid-morning before we got a bird in for me and the next morning I was able to sit with Micah when he called in and harvested a beautiful mature Hoosier Gobbler.
As we sat with Paul on that hunt we asked him about the property we were hunting. Paul is a seasoned forester with 40+ years of experience in the woods. God has gifted him with knowledge and wisdom in many things... but when it comes to trees and forests combined with wildlife habitat, he excels above any I've met.
There was one stand of trees on that Indiana property that intrigued me. It was a plantation of very thick white pine trees, about 20 feet tall and in the midst of those pines were hardwood trees who's branches extended just above the boughs of the pines. On many of the pines I noticed that they had been girdled by a chainsaw to kill them, but leaves them standing. I had never seen anything like this before.
This week I again, while recording a radio show and podcast, asked Paul about those trees. He told me that those pines could be considered "mentor" trees for the hardwood trees growing between them. The planters planted pines and oak or walnut in alternating rows. The pines grow quickly and it forces the hardwood trees to grow, not only quickly but straight to gain sunlight. Once the hardwood trees grow talk and straight and become strong enough to stand on their own, the foresters go in and girdle the pines so they die and drop their needles. The oak or walnut trees then are ready to grow to maturity on their own. This produces a straighter, tall tree that is more likely to survive on its own, because it had the "mentor" tree alongside it.
This is a beautiful example of how as brothers and sisters in the family of God are called to be planted alongside others. We are to hold them up so they grow, spiritually strong and right. Then as they mature and reach a place where they can grow strong on their own, we step back and release them to move on so they too come alongside another that needs a Christian mentor alongside of them as well.
In Proverbs 27:17 we read of this same situation.
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
If we picture a butcher sharpening a knife... either against a steel, a strap or a wheel, if that knife comes close, but never comes in contact with the sharpening device, it is not affected. However, when it comes in contact with the device sparks could fly and the knife becomes sharp. As the pines grow, if they don't grow close to the hardwoods and cover them with their branches they don't affect the growth of the valuable hardwood trees.
Both men and women are called to come alongside others and help them to grow to maturity and strong. When we come in close, intimate contact, sparks fly and luves are changed. If you are young in your faith and your walk with God, seek out someone to come alongside you. And if you are mature, allow God to plant you next to someone that needs you there to be close and help them grow straight and strong in their walk with the Lord.
2 Timothy 2:2
The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
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