Iron sharpens Iron

Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

As a believer in Christ, we are not able to grow, shut up in a room, praying and reading our Bible all day. We need friction, trials and the correction of others to mature.

Often, we look for people who are like minded. People who always agree with us and never challenge us. It is in our nature to seek the path of least resistance. These things are not necessarily bad, but often weakens us. Some of the strongest people are those who have gone through the toughest times, and came out victorious on the other side.

Many a believer in Christ do not attend church because there are certain things they do not want to hear. They do not want to be challenged in their faith or to grow. Also, many leave the church because someone in the church is rubbing them the wrong way, challenging their ideas and theology, or God forbid, don't agree with them.

On the flip side of the coin, their are those believers in Christ who insulate themselves from the non-believer or worldly person. They only mingle with the believer in Christ. (I Corinthians 5:9) We do need to be on our guard from worldliness and temptations. the Bible does tell us to watch and pray. (Matthew 26:41) The Bible teaches us that we are in this world, but not of this world. Those who isolate themselves from non-believers will weaken themselves as well, because there will be no friction in their life or be challenged in their faith. Yes, there must be balance and precautions taken to guard ourselves from sin.

The underlying idea here is that friction is not necessarily a bad thing at times. While constant friction is a bad thing. Even as iron sharpens iron, if you sharpen a knife all day, you will destroy it.