Are You Staying Sharp?

A chef always requires that his knives be sharp. That makes perfect sense. Have you ever tried to cut something with a dull knife? The task is difficult, if not impossible, depending on what you were trying to cut. It is not just knives that need to be sharp to work efficiently. A hoe for chopping weeds and a lawnmower blade for mowing grass also need to be sharp. You could probably list countless other tools that require sharpness for effectiveness.

There are multiple ways to sharpen these kinds of tools. Whetstones, files, and grinders are just a few of the proven methods. Today in many homes you might find an electric knife sharpener. While it takes a lot of work out of sharpening a knife, many older people would say that it is just not as effective as doing it by hand with a whetstone. You can decide for yourself which method is best.

My purpose in this post is not to remind you to sharpen your knives but rather to keep yourself sharp. When Stephen Covey wrote The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, he included as one of those habits "Sharpen the Saw." He was speaking of staying sharp in one's vocation, business, and relationships with people. That is a very excellent point but it was not original with Covey.

In the Bible, the writer of the Book of Proverbs included these words found in Proverbs 27:17:

"Iron sharpens iron, and one man

sharpens another."

We all know people that we admire, listen to, and allow them to influence us. If another person sharpens me like a whetstone can sharpen a knife blade, what type of person do I want that to be? A few quick negative suggestions - I don't think that a pessimist, a liar, a fraud, a manipulator, or many other negative qualities would be desirable in a person to sharpen another person.

Once those negative influencers are eliminated, where do I find those persons or resources to sharpen me? I would suggest you look for persons of faith, integrity, honesty, and compassion. In addition, find someone who is transparent about their failures as well as their successes. I have a friend of almost sixty years that always encourages and casually shares his knowledge without forcing it upon me. After a visit, I am more in tune with the things I should be doing and considering.

Not everyone finds the right person to help sharpen them. That is not a problem. The greatest resource available to us to sharpen our thoughts, our actions, our relationships, and our purpose is found in the Bible as God reveals Himself and His purposes to us through His Word. If you were to go back and read my previous postings, you would find verses from the Bible printed or referenced in all of them. Today is not an exception with the printing of Proverbs 27:17. It is these thoughts and verses from the Bible that are the basis and foundation for what I share in these weekly posts. I encourage you to become a regular reader of the Bible. As you do, you will yourself be sharpened for living a better life and a more focused life as you both read and listen to what God is saying to you through His written Word.

It is handy to have a sharp knife and sharp tools, but it is even more important to be a person sharpened and made usable by the living God. Have a great week.