“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
My dad was a Jack-of-all-trades. In his younger years he helped build tanks to aid in the war effort. Later, he operated his own gas station while also running The Hamburg, a family-owned drive-in restaurant. In the 60's, he moved the family to the Sunshine State where he built our home, doing much of the work himself.
Dad's Florida resume included managing a tool and die shop, designing and building two golf courses, and operating a third course where he also worked as the teaching pro.
It won't come as a surprise that my dad's toolbox was a potpourri of gadgets. Micrometers, Allen wrenches, hand drills (think egg beaters), T-squares, monkey wrenches, hand saws, hammers, and several sharpening stones filled the 4-drawer wooden box.
You may be wondering why we are scrounging around his toolbox especially when dad has been gone 35 years. It's those sharpening stones! What a great tool. A couple of drops of oil . . . a little friction as metal kisses rock . . . and a dull edge becomes razor sharp.
God values the sharpening process. He tells us:
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
If we want to get a little sharper in life, we have to endure a little friction.
We are in a new series at Spanish River. No More Anxious Days is an opportunity for us to acknowledge and address the crippling effects of anxiety, and more importantly to to understand how God helps.
Anxiety is a touchy issue. We want to address it with grace and truth. To that end our team was offering me some constructive criticism yesterday in our programming meeting. I needed that — and I want it.
I know if I want to improve (and this goes for all of us on the team), I’m going to feel a little of that friction that comes from pointed questions, constructive criticism, and “here’s how you could be a little more effective” kind of counsel.
God wants us razor sharp, but it is going to take a little friction to hone our edge.
We must answer penetrating questions:
"What are you doing to keep your walk with God fresh?"
"Are you playing with any temptations?"
How are you reminding yourself that Jesus is for you?
What will it cost you to love the family of God this week?
We must not bristle under pointed criticism:
"You can do better work than that."
"If you want to improve you are going to have to ______________."
"Watch out for that guy, he's trouble."
We must be willing to embrace compassionate counsel:
"Look, you've got to take ownership on this one."
"I think you need to wrestle with getting another job."
Who is your sharpening stone? Why not ask a friend this question today:
“What’s one area in my (fill in the blank) _________ I need to improve to be more effective for God?”
For more help . . .
Spanish River uses 9 key questions to encourage and challenge each other to live on mission. You can find them on the SRC app under "Connect,". The SRC app is available for IOS, Android and Windows platforms. Search "Spanish River Church" in your app store and check it out!