“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” ~Proverbs 27:17

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” ~Proverbs 27:17

I’ve heard this my whole life - I knew what it meant but really didn’t pay alot of attention to it until a few summers ago. We were on a family vacation and the house provided kitchen utensils, including a set of the dullest knives ever seen. They couldn’t cut butter. My son-in-law said, “I can fix this” and he proceeded to use the knife blades against each other, honing the edge back to one that would cut my watermelon. I also noticed that the knives went from a dirty grey to being bright, shiny and reflective.

The moral of the story is clear - a knife is a knife is a knife, but not effective unless it is sharp and shiny. How does it retain those qualities? By rubbing elbows with other knives. We need each other. Spending time with other folks who love Jesus can be exciting as well as calming and relaxing. It’s amazing when you think about it.

We are one body - it is logical that we should hang out together and shine with His light. Science tells us that when a source of light is joined by another, it becomes brighter. Well, Solomon knew this back when he wrote the book of Proverbs almost 3000 years ago.

“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” ~Genesis 2:18a

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” ~Galatians 6:2

“ For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” ~Matthew 18:20

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” ~Hebrews 10:24-25