Iron Sharpens Iron

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

Most of us have read this verse, but let’s take a closer look at what that means.   We need people around us who sharpen us as a person, people who help bring us closer to God.  We need iron people around us in our daily lives. 

But what exactly is an iron man?  I think the answer is in Proverbs 27: 19, “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”

An iron man is someone who reflects the face of Christ because Christ fills their heart.

Unwavering in his faith and conviction, this man doesn’t need to tell you he’s a Christian.  You will know an iron man when you see him.  Christ reflects in his face like the living water that is our Savior.  That is the kind of Christian we must have and hold close to us.

Just as important as having iron in our life, we must be very cautious of influences in our life that do not meet these criteria.  Proverbs 27:3 says, “A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool’s wrath is heavier than both of them.” Do you have heavy friends?  Friends that drag you down like an albatross around your neck.  People who drag you down and never pick you up. 

Maybe a better question is, are you a heavy friend?  Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens and In this you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Fulfill the law of Christ?  Yes, it IS the law of Christ to carry each other’s burdens.  It is his commandment.  Jesus took all the commandments down to just two: Love the Lord thy God, and your neighbor as thyself.  Job 6:14 says “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty”.  We should have a very healthy fear of rejecting God’s commandments. 

Notice a rope is never braided in just 2 cords.  Two cords can easily fall apart, but three is much stronger.  How about 4, church?  How about 5….10….100….10,000? 

What if the church full of iron men stood by one another in one cord?  I believe if we did the world would look much different.  We need to be in each other’s lives as Christians.

We must not leave our neighbor alone to fall without our hand stretched out in love.

Church we need more iron Christians with good hearty counsel.  Seek out that counsel and hold them as close as a brother.  Become that hearty council and be there to pick your brother up when he is down.  We need to come together as one body, one face reflecting Christ.  Find friends who reflect the face of Jesus, then love them as Christ loves the church, for that is our commandment and purpose here on earth.  We are to be the face of Christ until we are in the presence of the face of Christ!

In Christ,
Bro. Dale