Frank Molver (6 Aug 2013)
"Iron sharpens iron,
not a sword fight"
Had a funny thing happen recently re this
The thought of iron sharpens iron scripture came to mind
I immediately thought of the time when my Russian Christian
friend visited with his 7 daughters, I have 4 boys
He noticed my Japanese swords and unsheathed one
He ran his hand accross the blade and said "Boys"
I looked and there were dings all along the blades
I did not realize my boys were actually sword fighting each
other with real swords
So the thought came, sword fights do not sharpen iron.
This brought me to think about how we try to help people out
some times and end up making a mess
Also it reminded me of some of the turmoil we have discussing
Christian topics on the internet
I thought, how did they sharpen iron with iron
So I decided to google Iron sharpens iron
It has to do with fellowship
http://www.gotquestions.org/iron-sharpens-iron.html
Question: "What does it mean that iron sharpens iron?"
Answer: The phrase “iron sharpens iron” is found in Proverbs
27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
There is mutual benefit in the rubbing of two iron blades
together; the edges become sharper, making the knives more
efficient in their task to cut and slice. Likewise the Word of
God is a ‘double-edged sword’ (Hebrews 4:12), and it is with
this that we are to sharpen one another—in times of meeting,
fellowship, or any other interaction.
The Proverb also indicates the need for constant fellowship with
one another. Man was not made to be alone, for did not the Lord
God say this, even before the Fall (Genesis 2:18)? How much
more, then, after the Fall of Man, do we need to come together
with our brothers and sisters in Christ for seasons of
fellowship and prayer. Clearly this was recognized by the saints
of the early church (Acts 2:42-47) who “devoted themselves” to
the teaching, fellowship, communion, and prayer, all corporate
activities that provided opportunities for sharpening one
another. The result was that they were “filled with awe” and
when they met together, they praised God for the favor they
found with one another.
There are two points to make about the above proverb. First, the
meeting of two together in the Lord’s name will always guarantee
blessing. It is a means of grace that the Lord Himself
promised—where two or more are gathered in His name, there He is
among them (Matthew 18:20). Also, we see a similar meaning in
Malachi for those who feared the Lord talked with each other,
and the Lord listened and heard (Malachi 3:16). When we sharpen
one another in real Christian fellowship, the Lord bends an ear
from heaven and is pleased. Not one word about Him which brings
Him glory escapes His notice.
The fragrances of divine ‘unity’ are best sensed in the
relationship of David and Jonathan, son of Saul. When David was
being hotly pursued by Saul, Jonathan sought David out “to help
him find strength in God” (1 Samuel 23:16), which leads us onto
our second point. Iron sharpening iron is an opportunity to
fulfill the Law of Christ. The apostle Paul says that we are to
carry and share the issues and burdens that we face daily, to
lament over personal sin, advise on how best to repent of it,
and rejoice over the conquest of it. This is the same “royal
law” mentioned in James 2:8, where we are exhorted to love one
another.
Returning to the analogy, if a knife is blunt, it still
continues to be a knife, although it is less effective, less
useful in the Lord’s service. Let us therefore be encouraged to
spend more time together, exhorting, encouraging, praying,
admonishing, sharing God’s Word, praying over God’s Word and the
needs of our local church, that we become sharper, more cutting
in the ministry that the Lord has assigned to each of us. Too
often what passes as fellowship in the modern church is centered
on food and fun, not on sharpening one another with the Word of
God. In far too many instances, the only knives being sharpened
are the ones used at potlucks.
Finally, a knife that has been sharpened will also shine more
because all the dullness has been rubbed off its surface.
Likewise, we will shine better for our Lord if we do the things
mentioned above consistently, all of which will unite us in
harmony. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live
together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). Therefore, as the author to
the Hebrews says, “And let us consider how we may spur one
another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up
meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us
encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day
approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Read more:
http://www.gotquestions.org/iron-sharpens-iron.html#ixzz2b6zpiPYr