The Cutting Edge

(Proverbs 27:17 KJV)  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

I learned about this a few years ago when my wife was given a really good set of knives.  I always thought when you want to sharpen iron you use a stone.  That is the way my dad did it and the limit to my knife sharpening experience.  Knives were sharpened with whet stones.  So what was this long thin rod of rough steel that came with the set?

I have experimented with it and find that it gets the knives sharp enough to make me bleed profusely if I am not careful. 

This verse tells me that to stay sharp we need constant work.  If I had a really dull knife I would probably take it to a stone.  If I just want to keep a knife in shape, the steel rod will do the job.  We need to be in constant contact with each other.  We need fellowship.  We need to be the ever ready pocket knife, not wait until we need a serrated edge to get through the warm butter.

So?  Hang around with your spiritual brothers and sisters.  They can keep you sharp with gentle strokes of rebuke.  They can keep adding to your knowledge.  They can take the wind out of your sails.  All of which we need from time to time.