Don’t Be a Dull Blade

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens the wits of another.” – Proverbs 27:17 GW

When you’ve been on the go, sometimes you feel like you’ve been dulled by the constant grind of life, like a knife set at the wrong angle against a sharpening stone.

The writer of this proverb could have meant several things when they wrote it. Many translations are vague in their translation; this particular translation focuses on the “wits of another.”

Does that mean humor, mental sharpness, situational awareness, or our relationships and conversations?

Most likely, it’s all of the above.

We need each other for accountability, motivation, problem-solving, and community.

God designed you to be an essential and integral part of the body of Christ. When we sharpen each other, we help each other do better work and fulfill our calling to Christ.

We limit our growth when we only surround ourselves with people whose experiences and perspectives contradict our preconceptions, beliefs, and biases.

The people you spend time with will sharpen or dull you, draw you closer or drive you further from a relationship with God, and enlighten or confuse you.

Choose wisely and invest your time well. By spending time with like-minded believers and professionals, you can learn more about your calling and how God values your work.

Moreover, you will guide others desperate to know that their work is meaningful, their calling is necessary, and that God loves them for who they are, not what they do.

Either way, you’re part of the process. You stay sharp by remembering this one truth:

When iron sharpens iron — sometimes you’re the hammer — and sometimes you’re the blade.

Ask yourself:

Am I authentic and transparent with the people around me?

For reflection:

Lord, surround me with people who will sharpen me. Connect me with people whom I can encourage and disciple. Remind us that we are essential to each other and to your church, the body of Christ. Amen!