Prov 27:17

"As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend Prov 27:17

I've always admired butchers - no, no, I mean the kind who cut our meat for us. I have watched them in the butchers' shops here in Hong Kong, as they deftly trim the meat into that perfect "T-bone" steak, or remove the "eye" from the standing rib to make rib eye steaks. The way they do it always amazes me. After years of investigation and hours of observation, I've discovered their secret. (Hush, don't tell anyone.) It is the sharp knives they use. They cut beef like hot butter. Now when I have a sharp knife, I can do pretty well, too. The problem is keeping the knife sharp.

Well, I've discovered that secret as well. It is the butcher's steel - that rat tail shaped, course textured item they run the blade swiftly and accurately over time and again. When the blade is honed to a razor edge, it is ready to use.

Obviously, Solomon knew the secret of sharpening blades. Though he was not know as a warrior, he was a man familiar with war. He knew how to prepare a sword for battle. He knew how use the "steel" to sharpen a blade.

He takes this observation one step further when he applies it to human nature. Have you ever wondered why God has allowed you to work with that obnoxious fellow employee - you know, the one who just seems to always rub you the wrong way. Or, why is it that you always seem to get that noisy, clumsy checker at the local supermarket store? Even when you try to find a check-out where she is not on duty, it seems that when your turn comes, she is the relief for that wonderful young lady with the big smile. And what about that spouse of yours. Sometimes he/she just insists on driving you crazy!

Solomon says that they are placed in our lives to sharpen us, to make us better, to teach us patience, grace, mercy, forgiveness, or what ever we need to be taught. We can do one of two things with them. We can turn tail and run (only to be faced with the problem again . . . and again . . . and again. Or, we can learn the lesson and move on with life.

I choose learning. I have tried running and the re-runs of the lesson are no fun, trust me. Hallelujah Amen and Amen.