IRON SHARPENS IRON
Proverbs 27:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
Men need one another to help us become all that God wants us to be.
But men aren’t alone
–women need other women to help them become all God wants them to be also.
We all need each other!
TWO MEN WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE
Jonathan 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 20:1-23. 42; 23:15-18
How did Jonathan make a difference in David’s life?
1 Samuel 18:1-4
They are united in love for one another. 1
After David kills Goliath and Saul inquires concerning his family, Jonathan and David immediately bond.
They become one in spirit–they’re united–their hearts are knit together. 1
Jonathan loves David 1
Jonathan promises loyalty to David. 3
He makes a covenant with David. 3
He loves David as much as he loves himself.
That love guarantees a commitment to look out for David’s welfare.
Though we’re not told what’s involved in this covenant, other passages demonstrate that it involves a promise to stick together,
to assist one another,
and to look out for one another.
Jonathan gives his clothing (undoubtedly identifiable as royal garments),
and his own armor to David. 4
This may be symbolic of his acknowledgement that David would assume his right to the throne, and acceptance of God’s promise to David.
It was a demonstration of his personal commitment to David.
1 Samuel 20:1-23; 42
David was able to talk about his problems with Jonathan
–even when they involved Jonathan’s family. 1-3
Jonathan promises to help David, whatever it costs him. 4-13
He is willing to do anything David asks, to help him. 4
He already knows David will take the throne he would inherit. 13b-16
Jonathan trusts David’s vow of loyalty. 17
He just asks him to reaffirm the oath.
Jonathan trusts God to govern justly for them both. 23
They make an oath of friendship to one another in God’s name, and trust God to keep them faithful to their vow. 42
1 Samuel 23:15-18
In the heat of conflict, knowing that Saul was determined to kill him,
David found encouragement in his friendship with Jonathan.
Jonathan helps David find strength in God. 16
He encourages David to trust God in the face of hard times and opposition.
Jonathan is confident David will assume the throne. 17
Jonathan voluntarily submits himself to David as king.
They renew their covenant before the Lord. 18
Jonathan is a true friend to David.
Jonathan remains loyal to David even knowing he will take his throne.
That doesn’t matter.
Parallel with John the Baptist–a loyal subject:
“He must increase but I must decrease.”
Nathan 2 Samuel 12:1-14
How did Nathan make a difference in David’s life?
Nathan loves David too much to allow him to continue in his sin.
Nathan confronts him with the truth, firmly, but in love.
Nathan not only confronts David for his sin, but . . .
He is the agent of God’s forgiveness
when David acknowledges his sin. 13
David never questions Nathan’s commitment to him and love for him.
HOW DO WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS?
The “one-another” passages of Scripture show us some of the significant ways we can make a difference in each other’s lives:
This is just a partial list of the ways we can make a difference and encourage one another to trust God and become all that He wants us to be.
1 Corinthians 12:26 We suffer together during the hard times.
We celebrate together during the good times.
Galatians 6:1 We restore one another when a friend goes astray.
6:2 We assist one another when the load’s too heavy.
Ephesians 4:15 We tell each other the truth in love.
Colossians 3:16 We teach each other the truth WE have learned.
We warn one another wisely, when a friend needs godly counsel.
Especially when a friend is in danger of going astray.
As we saw in 1 Cor. 5, we love each other too much to stand idly by when a friend is about to jump off a cliff!
Hebrews 10:24 We motivate one another toward love and good deeds.
James 5:16-20 We acknowledge our sin to one another.
As we’re honest and vulnerable with one another, God enables us to encourage each other to godly living.
We pray for one another when we struggle in hard times.
Again, this is just a partial list, but it demonstrates that God intends for us to form the kind of godly relationships that allows us to come alongside one another and nudge each other on toward a lifestyle that pleases and glorifies Him.
WHO PROVIDES THIS KIND OF INFLUENCE IN YOUR LIFE?
Godly people in Scripture, and throughout history, have surrounded themselves with other godly people who pray for them and encourage them in their walk with God.
Sometimes it’s one-on-one–a good friend we can be totally honest with.
Sometimes it’s a group (maybe 4-6) good friends we can trust to encourage us on in our walk with Him.
For me it has worked more effectively with a group.
Naturally, I like that better.
For others it’s been one close friend.
Scripture shows us the relationship between:
David and Jonathan
David and Nathan
Jesus and the twelve
Barnabas and Paul
Paul and Timothy
Paul surrounds himself with a close group of associates who go with him everywhere he goes.
What do you suppose it was that changed John Mark from the runaway Paul wanted nothing to do with, into a useful colleague?
What changed Onesimus from useless to useful?
WHO IS IT FOR YOU?
Ralph and ? (Who?)
Salt Lake City crew
Who now?
Howard Hendricks urges us all to surround ourselves with a group of close friends who love us–a small group of intimate friends we can trust.
He urges us to give them the right to do four things:
1) The right to question
No question is an illegitimate question!
2) The right to evaluate
Not only to tell you what they appreciate
But to tell you what is destructive
3) The right to rebuke
To tell you you’re out of bounds; you’re neglecting your wife; playing games.
4) The right to counsel
Such relationships aren’t for people who are image conscious
–who want to look good
and impress people.
But we all need that kind of friends to come alongside us and encourage us to become all that God wants us to be.
WHO WILL DO IT FOR YOU?
Hendricks mentions the example of a student I knew:
. I had a student from Wheaton College, my alma mater. Loved the guy like crazy. In the fourth year I called him into my office one day and said, "Hey, man, I'm really disappointed in you." Well, that jarred him no end. He asked why. I said, "Because I think you have about twelve cylinders, and you are operating on about two." Well, he didn't like it. In fact, you could see the red come up the back of his neck. He was polite, you understand. Didn't cuss me out! He just left with, "The Lord bless you." Eight years later, I got a letter, one of the most prized letters I have in my file. He said, "Thanks, Prof." He has been a chaplain in the marines, and distinguished himself in my judgment as no graduate ever has in the chaplaincy. He said, "Thanks, Prof, for loving me enough to tell it like it was."
Have YOU got anybody who will do that in your life?
Is there anyone who loves you enough to tell YOU the truth in love?
Who loves you too much to let you stay the way you are, when God wants to make you more fruitful, and bless your life more abundantly?