If any man wants to develop confidence and discipline, and be recognized as a reliable, self-sufficient person, it’s crucial to surround yourself with individuals who challenge you to improve. It seems like a straightforward idea, doesn’t it?
This unique wisdom found in the Book of Proverbs, chapter 27, verse 17, gives us some insight into a dynamic going way back in time. In a nutshell: if you want to grow spiritually, surround yourself with those who are truly qualified challenge you to grow.
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Prov.27:17
Let’s get little technical for a minute. The word for ‘man’ here is the Hebrew word ‘ish’ which is a masculine noun. When in Genesis 2:23 it says that the woman was taken from ‘man’, the text uses the word ‘ish’. In other words, it clearly speaks of a dude, not a gal.
Now that we’ve established this fact, can we ask the big question?
But why so many men fail to foster healthy relationships with other men who can help them grow spiritually?
Some of you might insist that you’re already doing it, but are you genuinely purposeful about seeking out people who push you to grow? Or do you tend to stick with those who are similar to you? If you claim that you’ve surrounded yourself with those who genuinely challenge you, yet you still struggle with feelings of inadequacy, then I must question the intentionality of those relationships or the integrity of those people.
This brings to mind the saying, “You become like the people you surround yourself with.” So what should we do now?
Let’s take a moment to consider, “Who in my contacts can I truly count on to sharpen me?” If you lack such a person, I sincerely hope you can identify someone in your life right now. But in case you can’t, I don’t want to leave you without an opportunity to connect with a community of like-minded Christian men.
Our groups meet weekly to encourage, challenge, and shape each other into the men God intended us to be. Join us and take a step toward improving your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Click here and get in touch with me, I’ll be happy to connect you with a group of men here in the Minneapolis / St. Paul metro area who are serious about seeking God and building each other up.
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Jeff Hagen
As I face my own aging, and live daily in a seniors’ building, I become more conscious of how stuck we are in our own formation. Only by a reverent seeking after God’s will mixed with humble prayer can the change God seeks to make in us really happen. Seeking this goal together is a powerful aide for this process! God bless your ministry in all of this!
I like it. I shared this with my son Danial Mularoni and son-in-law Kai Worrell.
What Jeff says matters to me. We have great discussions around these God and life issues. (He’s cute too.)
Loved your commentary this morning Jeff. We think of a piece of iron drawn from a barrel to be used as a sword. To be useful it must be formed, shaped and grinded to sharpen it for combat. The master blacksmith pounds and grinds the sword.
If it is not used, rust forms. It must be regrinded and sharpened regularly, and remain in use, to be effective.
Our Lord puts other like-minded men in our lives for a reason. Do not do life alone. We need to model the community of our Triune God. Keep sharp guys and never give up or or give in. Our victory is guaranteed. Fight the good fight–together!