The last time we purchased a set of knives, it came with a block that had one slot per knife…plus one.

The extra slot looked nothing like the rest of them, which were essentially flat perpendicular slits in the wood.

This one was much shorter than any of the knife slots. Also, it was a small square.

As we started taking out the knives, we noticed one that was not a knife.

It turned out to be the knife sharpener.

The manufacturers, recognizing the fact that all knives eventually grow dull with use, chose to include the solution in the package.

Of course, we had no reason to use the sharpener for quite some time as the knives were still brand new.

But then came a day when cutting up chicken with the biggest knife turned out to be quite a chore. It sliced through the meat with very little difficulty, but cutting through the skin was quite another story.

It was pretty obvious that the knife had lost at least some of its sharp edge.

Thank God for the knife sharpener in the block. All we had to do was take it out, run the edge of the knife on it a few times and bingo! We had ourselves a sharp knife again.

Isn’t it true that we, like the knives, can lose our sharp edge from time to time? Whatever the cause may be–constant use, fatigue, stress—becoming dull is inevitable.

Thankfully, God has provided a way for us to re-gain our sharp edge.

Are you ready for it? Here it is in Proverbs 27:17:

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

That’s it.

For the knife to be sharpened, it needs to come in contact with the sharpener.
So also, for us to stay sharp, we need to place ourselves in a position where we come into contact with others.

This is why God created us to live in community.

God placed in us the need to need one another.

Living in isolation could turn out to be a recipe for dullness of mind and spirit.

Meeting with others to study the Bible, spending time with a mentor, being part of a “mastermind” or “think-tank” are practical means by which we keep one another sharp.

Interestingly enough, the process of sharpening a knife produces friction when it comes in contact with the sharpener.

However, without that friction, the sharp edge is not regained.

What this tells us is that we need not meet with people who are like-minded and agree with us on everything.

As a matter of fact, those who challenge us and create friction in the process contribute to our sharpness!

My friend Grant Lafleche who engaged me in a debate on the meaning of Christmas last December sharpened my wits quite a bit through his views, which were often diametrically opposed to mine.

How about you? Have you discovered the truth that “Iron sharpens iron” in your life?

On the road to reaching our destiny, it is highly desirable if not outright essential that we connect with others, even with those who disagree with us (at least on certain points) and make us sharper in the process by creating friction.

What has been your experience in this area? Please share your responses with the rest of your DWOD family.