As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.  Proverbs 27:17

I’ve heard this verse a million times, and I don’t think I ever stopped to think about what it really means, until an extremely wise man made me think about it in a different way this week.  He said it like this: Iron sharpens iron, no matter their age.  

Huh.  I guess I’ve always assumed that this verse applied to two different relationships in a person’s life – one to sharpen someone else, and one for someone else to sharpen you.  I’ve always looked at it as mentoring relationships, where one person gives and the other takes, in unequal but appropriate proportions.  We all need some mentees and some mentors in our lives.  I know that I have had many people come along in my life to whom I’m able to be a mentor, and many who have been a mentor to me.  Many times, my mentors are older than I – professors, teachers, people who have just had more life experiences than I have.  But over time, these mentors have become friends, family to me.  It is no longer a disproportionate give and take relationship.  Rather, it has become a give and take in nearly equimolar amounts to each person.

I think that’s really what this person was getting at this week.  It doesn’t matter if you’re 16 and I’m 22 – if God can use you to teach me something, to humble me, to finally get through to me, then so be it.  It doesn’t matter if I’m 22 and you’re 38 – if God can use you to show me my shortcomings and faults, and to inspire a change in me, then I’m all for it.  It doesn’t matter if I’m 22 and you’re 52 – if God can use me to give you encouragement, to instill a change in your life for the better, then I’m in.

I don’t want this to sound conceited – that’s not my point.  My point is this – never underestimate the way in which your life can impact someone else’s, no matter their age, or your own.  Never sell yourself short in your relationships –  by listening to Satan’s lies that you’re not good enough; be willing to be vulnerable, no matter the cost, no matter the outcome.  Be willing to laugh, cry, sing, mourn, dance, love, hug, smile, live in the moment, and be honest.  Be willing to dream for the future, even if you don’t think you’ll be here.  Let people in, and they will change you.  Let people in, and they will challenge you.  Let people in, and they will sharpen you, no matter their age.

There is much that I aspire to.  Firstly, to reflect God’s character and love in my life in everything I do.  Second, to live for His glory, having counted the cost and stepping out in faith.  I want to be an inspiration to people, young and old, Christian and not.  I want people to look at me and say, “Because of what God has done in your life, I didn’t give up.”  These aspirations ask much of me, and are difficult at times.  These things reflect Proverbs 27:17.  I want to be iron, and I want to be sharpened by iron.

Thank you to those of you in my life who have lived this verse, whether in mentoring relationships or “equimolar” friendships, or in other capacities.  I am thankful for you and the work God is doing in and through you every day.  May He continue to sharpen you and bring you closer to Him daily.