Sharpening

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

This is one of my favorite Proverbs, especially when I consider the value of friendship. I am blessed with several friends who regularly "sharpen" me.

Some friends sharpen me through offering different views of God and of His work in our lives. Having friends with diverse personalities and experiences gives me the opportunity to see different angles of God and have Him reveal Himself to me in new ways.

Another form of sharpening is through criticism. I'll admit that I don't always graciously accept criticism (which is a nice way of saying that my gut reaction is to pout if someone criticizes me!). But I'm learning the value of constructive criticism, particularly when it comes from friends. They've seen me at my best and my worst, and love me just the same. Their criticism is not meant to tear down but to build up, to make me stronger and sharper and more effective.

Just as a dull knife is ineffective, we too need sharpening (however painful it may seem) from time to time. What are some other ways that friends can "sharpen" us?