Friends…what are they, what is our responsibility towards them. Today I had two encounters which gave me reason to believe the truth of Pro 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend. A friend then is one who comes alongside no matter the circumstance to do just that “sharpen” or to be sharp, be alert, be keen. That should be our sole purpose in life for another that we are sure those for whom we care are sharp to face the onslaught of the trials of life, the attacks of the world and the ways of the “accuser of the brethren”. Alert means to be on guard, to be watchful. Keen has the idea of having a very fine edge; as a keen razor, or a razor with a keen edge. Note that of the three attributes or characteristics all are active and thus setting aside of personal needs to attend to another’s.

Today in these encounters it became apparent that friendship is not only a two way street but one that is fraught with hazards of overstepping, inserting self where one is not wanted or needed. Thus this sharpening comes at a heavy cost and one not taken lightly. When the person seeks to sharpen his knife he first takes a sharpened piece of the same material and rubs it against the intended implement. What is the bladesmith’s purpose? It is to remove the dross that is hindering the ability to cut with accuracy. That should be our total purpose in life, to be accurate not only with implements but also with words, with thoughts, with our prayers.

May today we be used to sharpen and to be used of the Holy Spirit to cause another to be sharp, alert and keen in the throes of life’s trials and circumstances.