Proverbs
27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
Iron
sharpens iron... I picture using a file or sharpening stone or something along
those lines to sharpen a knife or some other instrument. I see it as one person
listening to the Lord and helping another to become 'sharper' - to grow - to
come into a position where they can fulfill their original design in God - the
dreams that the Lord has placed with them - their 'calling'.
Things
that I say to people may be hard sometimes, tough love - we used to call it.
But if it's a case where the person is serously affecting my emotional,
mentally, or spiritual well-being, then I need to set some ground rules.... if
those ground rules aren't followed then I need to speak the truth - but with an
attitude that I still love that person, I just cannot 'put up with certain
things'. These things are not meant to be hurtful, but to cause the person to
at least think about their actions, ways of thinking and relatting and so
forth. I don't
want to hurt them - that person is my friend, but there's something that needs
to be 'called out' and no one else is doing it.... and the Lord picked me (I
didn't even raise my hand to be picked)!
My
thoughts go immediately to - How will they take it - will they be mad at me -
will they know that I do love them and that I really want tot help them grow in
the Lord - will they at least pray about what I said. If the Lord prompts me to
say something, it's very noticeable within me. I pray about it, then it's
picking the right time to say it.
If it's
taken in a positive way, we can pray about it and see what courses of action to
take. If it's not taken the right way, then I ask the person to pray about it.
It's up to them what to do with it from there. I did what the Lord had me do -
if I didn't, I'd be disobedient (I may be ornery, but I'm not the disobedient
type normally).
It's like
prayng for someone - I LOVE to pray for people. Usually the Lord gives me
something for that person - a picture - a word - or just simply praying for the
need, but I believe that the Lord hears me and answers. If I didn't say what
the Lord was prompting me to say to the person I'm praying for (iron sharpening
iron), then I would be in disobedience - I would feel really rotten afterwards.
It's up to God to do the ministering. I just pray. Same concept when trying
to 'say the hard things' to another.
Luke 9:54
"When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us
to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked
them, and they went to another village." Even Jesus had to speak some hard words
to His friends. It doesn't say how they took it, but it did say that they went
on their way together.
Life isn't easy. It's full of
challenges. We are not meant to go through those challenges alone. We were meant
to be in community - in relsationship - in friendship. If our friends are truly
our friends, we will understand their heart in their 'rebukes'. Pray and then
take the action warranted. Sharpening hurts sometimes as the 'metal' of our
souls is being honed, but is necessary for all of us if we intend to be the Body
of Christ that the world needs.
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