Text: Proverbs 27 vs 17

“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend”.

Sharpening is a term that we readily associate with objects that cut through other things.

But what does it mean to Sharpen?

Firstly, we give obvious reasons why an iron (a knife, for example) would require sharpening by another.

Simply put, it is because it is blunt and ineffective for the purpose it was intended.

If we imagine the difficulty in using a blunt knife to cut a huge piece of meat, so much energy and time would be expended in completing a simple task whereas a sharper knife would have been easier and quicker.

Hence to sharpen is to remove the bluntness in a thing so as to make it effective.

In the same manner, a man would sharpen the countenance – that is the facial expression of another man (a friend) so as to remove its bluntness or lifelessness.

 

Except in a world where the devil ceases to exist, things don’t go well all of the time and they accordingly impart our countenances.

Note:

The “MAN” doing the sharpening as stated in reading text, refers to everyone (you and I) while anyone we sharpen is the “FRIEND”. It is hence important that we are from time to time sensitive to those around us to be able to become that “MAN”  

 Blunt Countenances might result from the following:

  • Fear
  • Hopelessness
  • Betrayal
  • Sorrow or Sadness
  • Defeat
  • Exhaustion
  • Regrets from poor choices
  • Negative Reports
  • Listening to the lies of the devil such as
    • I am too white my body needs tanning or
    • I am too black my body needs bleaching or
    • Because I am black, My promotion is delayed (but you were black before God got you the Job or other favours)
    • Too tall, too fat, Too short or even too thin
    • I can’t make it
    • I am too lonely (How can you be lonely when God is with you?)
    • I am too shy (He has not given us the spirit of timidity – 2Tim. 1:7)

It is also important we note that making a habit of speaking mouthful of negative words all the time to the devil’s delight is also a clear sign of bluntness.

In order to defeat all these blunt countenances, we have to accept and acknowledge our position in God with unswerving faith by daily appropriating His word and promises knowing well that He made each and every moment of the day.

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