Devotion Proverbs 27:17 What True Friends Do For Each Other

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

Friends, good friends, who truly love each other, want the best for each other, and would take risks and sacrifices for each other. The will tell the truth to each other. When they do tell the hard truth, it is appreciated because they both love and trust each other. Good friends speak the truth to each other and not flattering words. One friend must be willing to tell the truth and the other willing to accept the truth, even if it hurts.

The following is an excerpt from the Buck Knives webpage on sharpening knives “Sharpening is really two processes: Grinding and honing. Grinding is simply the removal of metal. Honing is a precision abrasion process in which a relatively small amount of material is removed from the surface by the means of abrasive stones. Once you have the right shape, usually using a more aggressive grit, you then switch to a finer grit to hone the edge.” When a knife is sharpened, the rough edges are knocked off. Sometimes a light touch is needed and sometimes metal needs to be reshaped and the iron must lose part of itself to be the tool it was meant to be. In the same way a true and wise friend knows the difference when a light touch will do the job or if, in love, the metal needs to be reshaped. It must be done in love.

True friends can speak truthfully to each other. But words should be followed with true help. It is no use to tell a drowning person to swim to the shore when the drowning person does not know how to swim. That person needs someone to help them get out of the situation and then to teach them to swim. And the person drowning must allow someone to help them.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another means that a friend is willing to say or do what is necessary to help their friend, even if it hurts. But then the one who wants to help must stick around to help the person. What if a friend does or says something that hurts or offends? A good friend will help the offending friend to learn and grow past the offending ways. A person who loves will be willing to love the person through the sharpening. God is desiring to sharpen us and sometimes it hurts, but it always for our benefit (Proverbs 3:12, Hebrews 12:6). May we love each other enough to sharpen each other, even though it sometimes involves work, patience, perseverance and love. If we truly have loved, then we will help sharpen each other. If not, we don’t truly love.

If we truly love others, as God has called us to do, then we will tell people the truth. The biggest truth we tell them is the Gospel of Jesus. We tell them that it is not by works (trying to be good) that anyone has true peace with God. We share with them that it is only by faith in Jesus that we come to eternal peace and unity with God (Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Timothy 2:5-6). Love each other. Sharpen each other and tell each other the truth and so please God. Praise God who gave us the Truth, Jesus Christ to and for the world!

Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!

Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.

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