Thank you my brother Please pray for my son to find a solid Biblical church and make new friends , men who love Jesus and put him first May God continue to bless you in every way 🙌
Absolutely praying for your son, Christian! It’s so interesting that you sent THIS comment on THIS day-I was just praying the very same for my own kids. Praying for them as I will pray for yours-that they would find “their people” and that God would lead and send solid Christ followers into their lives to surround them, walk with them, encourage them, and whom they can also encourage. Looking forward to what He does in your family!
You don’t understand such a simple section of the Bible. Have you even read Proverbs 27? The most common way iron sharpens iron is by pounding on it. Like pounding a piece of metal with a sledge hammer on an anvil, smashing it down to make a sharp edge on it. The verse uses the word “sharpens” as in, “makes ready to fight.” Its saying one man with his negativity can make another man angry and ready to fight. Like a neighbor who is always starting trouble, when you see him coming, you might “sharpen” yourself, preparing for an argument or to defend yourself someway. If you read all of Proverbs 27 from the beginning, you’ll notice the CONTEXT: it’s not praising good deeds, it’s all about dealing with those people who are being obnoxious to others: a fool’s provocation, anger, jealousy, kisses from enemies, see danger and avoid it, jerks who loudly (fake) bless their neighbor early in the morning, actually cursing at them, a quarrelsome wife. These verses are all warning don’t get baited by others looking for trouble. There’s a reason we give someone a “sharp answer” or a “sharp look.” Merriam-Webster defines sharpen a few ways. One says “inclined to or marked by irritability or anger, a sharp temper.” As iron sharpens iron, so one man irritates and angers another.” The verse is saying beware of those people who start quarrels. Someone who likes to argue and fight can draw you into their negativity if you’re not careful. So, the verse is actually warning to not let others “sharpen” you, irritate you or make you angry and lose your temper, like the fool, the morning false praiser, the jealous person, the enemy who pretends to be your pal in public, and the quarrelsome spouse.
New sub here.👋🏼But wow, this message is for me! We’ve (hubby & I) kept in contact (Facebook) with a brother from a previous church. This brother always seems to challenge me on my posts regarding scripture. And I always try to respond in love, but sometimes I’ve considered just deleting him lol. But after this message, it’s now clear to me that this is EXACTLY what’s happening...iron sharpening iron! 🤯🤯🙏🏼😅 Thank you! 😌
That’s a great question! Personally, as Christ-followers, I think the best (and primary) way to seek out friendships like this is within the context of our local church - not just by simply attending, but by plugging in and getting involved somehow. That isn’t just a “catch all” answer and here’s why I say that: Some of the deepest and most trusted, unexpected friendships that I’ve formed have been in the context of serving side-by-side with people. This can be anything from volunteering on a “regular” Sunday morning to something as daring as trusting God to serving with others on a missions trip (whether locally or globally). There are hundreds of examples in-between but the main point of it all is to pray, plug in, get around people, and let God use the context and the conversations that happen to grow what may turn out to be the exact person you needed in your life at the time. If you don’t have a church setting like that, maybe start looking for one where there are opportunities for that. I’m not advocating for “church hopping/shopping”...it’s simply that there is something miraculous that happens when we get around other like-minded people who can encourage us, stir us up, challenge us, and help us walk this daily life together. Some of the best opportunities for that to happen naturally is to plug in - whether serving together or studying Gods Word together. Hope that helps!
What do you do when a friend is abusing “rebuking a friend” for the sake of just critiquing every friend? Meaning, a friend doesn’t even want to give grace at all
Sounds like a tough situation and honestly doesn’t sound like iron sharpening iron, but someone being overly critical for the sake of having something to say. I would be completely honest and open with them, lovingly challenging them to see the effect that their words-whether positive or negative/critical-can have on someone who considers them a trusted friend. That, in my opinion, would be truly helpful for THEM, and as a result you would be that friend doing the sharpening!
I agree more with this than the more warm, fuzzy interpretation. If we take into context the two proverbs before this verse (annoying early bird and nagging wife), I get the impression of people wearing each other down. Iron sharpens iron by being scraped together and wearing down the dull edges. Using it as an analogy for the English language concept of a "sharp" person seems like a mistake.
As crestons wife that's who I am I will not tell you by speaking flowery language and fluff you up I will tell you the way it is not sugar coating the truth and people don't handle that well some do receive it well and not take offense to it but many don't receive it well
Lord, thank you for showing me your truth that sets free! In accordance with this word and proverbs 27:17, proverbs 27:19, colossians 3:23, 2 corinthians 6:14-18 I bind one to see the worth of working diligently while binding to hell every lack of thinking diligent work does not pay off in my life, the lives of my family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, acquitances, opponents and the body of Christ while binding to hell every fear of tiring oneself, binding to hell every unequal yoke and common share with anyone thinking diligent work is not worthy and does not pay off while being afraid of tiring oneself, in the name and blood of Jesus Christ, amen and hallelujah ❤!
