Iron sharpens Iron

Do you hear the same message multiple times in one week and wonder if God is trying to tell you something?

Willow Creek 'Wiser Together' sermon series from Proverbs... iron sharpens iron. My friend Emma told me last night that iron sharpens iron... On the radio this morning I have just heard the verse for the day - yep, Proverbs 27:17 'As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.'

So what does this mean?

If someone has God-like character, an attitude of being a constant disciple of Christ, a relentless pursuit of doing what Jesus did and obeying the whispers of the Spirit - THEY are worth being around. They will rub off. Similarly, if someone has slightly worse language, slightly worse taste in movies and slightly more tolerance of mediocrity, they will rub off.

Dilemma: does that mean that I need to ditch anyone who doesn't inspire me to greater Godliness? I'm in danger of shrinking my circle somewhat. Perhaps not, but I guess it is good to get a date in the diary for good quality time with people who are further on than me in their dedication to God. Life is thickened and flavoured by thought and action provoked by people who are IN the middle of something exciting, not just talking about it.

They may even be dead... in books. Take Mother Teresa or Jonathan Edwards, the original Christian hedonist who so inspired John Piper. They stepped out alone into a lower level of living, and continue to inspire us now to do likewise perhaps within the framework of a 'normal' 9-5 life or in a counter-cultural way. I want this so deeply.

My problem is I have a fierce independence having taken so many important steps on my own (alongside Jesus, of course; solitary but not alone). So many of my adventures and memories have been shared with Him only that I find it very tough to include others in my plans and dreams. I guess this becomes the mentality of a lot of non-married gals. We've been told all our lives that we can do anything, and so we go for it, and then we remember that actually living and working in community is better... dang.

Iron sharpens iron - I am better when among others. Even though the ideas God plants in my heart may be unpopular and I have a fight with those He has called me to be among! It is easier alone. But it is not better. And so if you get a call inviting you for a coffee, it's because you're iron and I wanna be around you!

The amazing thing is that as you sharpen (inspire, move to change, release dreams in) me, I sharpen you too.