Iron Sharpening Iron – Part 2 - Some Answers

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

I love the comments left in part one of this post. Thank you!

The two themes that I found were:

1 You need to determine if it is your responsibility

2 Loving your neighbor as yourself.

Although I do struggle with the concept of when it is my responsibility or not, the “love your neighbor as yourself” statement really hit home. The phrase “Christian Police” came up a few times. I realized that many times I find myself thinking like that, like somehow it is my responsibility to right the wrongs, in myself and others. But along with that I found myself doing that, not anytime I saw something wrong, but anytime I see something wrong that is in turn hurting or robbing others of what God would have for them. I am learning more and more about God’s desire for us to act justly as believers and fight injustice, well I hate the injustice that I see so many times that occurs to others because of someone else’s sin. I feel, right or wrong (I am not sure yet), that when such an injustice occurs I am sinning if I see it and do nothing. However as I journey through this I do know one thing, it is in loving whoever I find myself being called to sharpen in the same love that God shows me and I want shown to me that real justice can occur, that a real wrong can truly be righted. Trying to right a wrong in a wrong way does not create justice or peace. If I am honest with myself about how I communicate and what my true motives are then I believe I can stand before God and know I honored Him with this part of my life. Knowing what to do and when to do it is still very hard but knowing how to is much more clear and it is in knowing the “how” that I feel more empowered to act when I feel the tug in my spirit. Rather it is because of my love for someone or because of an injustice occurring, I still will act as I must, “do unto others as I would have them act towards me”. In a love that represents the grace and mercy of God on us all.

Iron Sharpening Iron – Part 1 - The Questions

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

This is a very popular verse used especially in many church communities for people in accountability groups to help each other grow and deal with our weakness and sin. One thing I have found myself struggling with is how to apply this verse, especially with individuals that don’t want to be sharpened.

There seems to be three types of potential sharpening experiences. The obvious and simplest one is when two or more come together for the purpose of being sharpened. They agree to let the others speak into their life and call them on things that need to change. The second potential sharpening experiences can be between those that have not “officially” said “Sharpen me” but are friends and in a relationship of trust and therefore can make observations that can sharpen each other. The 3^rd is when someone makes an observation or sees areas of sin in someone else’s life and the sin is affecting themselves or others around them negatively.

The first one is a pretty simple one because the doors are open for sharpening to occur and permission has been given. The other two are more complicated with the third being the most complicated. The question I am battling with right now is how to handle the 2^nd and 3^rd scenario. What is the responsibility of fellow believers to speak into each others life, especially when the sin or issue affects others and themselves negatively? Is it right to let someone continue to hurt themselves or others just because they have not given you permission to speak into their life?

I welcome thoughts and feedback because this is an issue I am struggling with and want to honor God first and then as best as I can my fellow brothers and sisters.