Sharpening

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
Proverbs 27:17

I've been thinking about this verse a lot lately as I study the people that I have in my life. There are times when my closest friends are the ones that are having to speak truth, that's very difficult to hear, into my life. And that's as it should be. See my best friends aren't the ones that always agree with me. They're the ones who make me a better person.

Sometimes it's because they come to me with a concern or an issue. They have to tell me that what I'm doing is wrong, or at least heading down the wrong path. They may tell me that I don't have a right to be offended by something. They challenge me when we disagree over an issue and that forces me to study it further.

Sound annoying? It would be expect that I know that the reason they talk to me about these things is because they love me. They want me to make the right choices because they want what's best for me. They challenge me to make me think. They warn me when I'm being overly sensitive so I don't destroy relationships with those around me. That's what friends do. But it's not all criticism either. They listen to me, pray for and with me, hug me when I'm crying, they laugh with me and make sure I get a break from the craziness that is life.

And that's just it. These are the things that friends do.They sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron. Sometimes it's painful for someone to call you out on what you're doing but it's also necessary. I'm blessed to have friends in my life who help me become a better person and I hope and pray that I can do the same for them.

God has blessed me with amazing people in my life. Amazing people who help me draw closer to the Lord and become a better person. Sometimes it's a painful process but they help sharpen me, refining me as God refines my heart into gold. Surround yourself with people who will sharpen you as iron sharpens iron, as God intended and then work to do that for them. That's what true friendship is about.