For the past couple of Wednesdays, I have been joining some of the most amazing young men I know from church. These men radically follow Jesus in wherever God placed them. It is such an amazing reminder of Proverbs 27:17 (ESV) “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”  Here are some things I realized:

1) Iron is tough.

Man is tough as well (at least that is what we try to project we are), but even a strong, raw iron is not as effective compared to a sharpened iron. When the going gets tough, have someone with you.

2) Iron is sharpened by another iron.

While intense heat can melt an iron, it is the forging of an iron to another iron that makes the metal into a form with use. We may be tough, we may be gifted, but without skilled, concerned men who have our backs we can’t be made into someone we are supposed to be.

3) Iron needs sharpening.

Most of the things that we have wear off over time. Same applies with us, we may have won this already, we may wing this already, but sooner or later time is going to overtake us, we need men who regularly challenge us. I’m thankful for mentors who are AHEAD of me who corrects me and challenges me and inspires me, I’m grateful for men who run WITH me and encourages me and haves fun with me, and I appreciate younger men whom I LEAD. As they grow, I am challenged to step up as well. Have someone who is ahead of you, beside you and under you, they sharpen you in different aspects.

4) Iron is sharpened to be used.

Regularly meeting together means nothing when we don’t change the world for the good. Regularly meeting with disciples is nothing if we won’t preach the Gospel to our campuses, families, companies and nations. We are being sharpened to be used. Is it for war (like swords, axes) to fight for a worthy cause? Is it for cultivation (like plowshares, knives, machetes, etc.)? It is useless to spend time and energy to sharpen something with no intention of using it. Be sharpened to be used.