Iron Sharpens Iron

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. 

– Proverbs 27:17

I am convinced that there are hundreds of athletes who woke up today sore and fatigued from yesterday’s Half Ironman triathlon here in Boulder, CO.  Swimming 1.2 miles, biking 56 miles, and running 13.1 miles will make anyone hobble a bit.

I’d like to design my own triathlon.  I’d swim two laps in a heated pool, relax in a jetted hot tub, pedal a mile or two on a cruiser bike with a huge padded seat, then rest on a porch swing with iced tea and a dear friend.  Want to race?

The two thousand triathletes this past weekend didn’t get long rests.  Instead, they swam in cold, murky water, climbed steep and rolling hills on their bikes, and ran a half marathon in 92-degree sunshine.  In order to finish, the athletes have to take every step of the way by themselves, without any help from friends or family along the way.

All we, as the crowd could do was clap and cheer.  So we did!  We yelled words of encouragement to men and women of all backgrounds, ages, shapes and sizes. Some triathletes ran through the crowds smiling ear to ear.  Others suffered in silence.  Some grimaced in pain.  Some ran in memory of a loved one.  One man ran by wearing a t-shirt with these words written boldly on the back, “IRON sharpens IRON.”  I wanted to stop him and ask him, “What does that mean?”

It turns out that “Iron sharpens iron,” is in Proverbs 27:17.   The Bible classifies Proverbs 27 as “Wisdom for Leaders.”  The advice from this verse is to surround yourself with strong people who will challenge you and spur you on to learn more, become more, and strive for more Godly wisdom and knowledge.  

Just like the triathletes!  Each one crossed the finish line alone but they couldn’t have accomplished their goal without the help from coaches, friends, and family members who had trained with them and encouraged them to keep going when they wanted to quit.  

Every day you are “running a race” too.  It’s your faith race.  Are you growing closer to God and running toward Him?  Or, are you asleep in your faith, and growing further away from God?  We need to spur one another on to become stronger, wiser, and bolder. 

One day we will all get to the end of our race and met Jesus face to face.  Until then, though, we need other “Irons” to walk and talk and share our faith with.  Whose faith can you sharpen?  Who can sharpen you?  Be an Iron Man or Woman by inviting someone to discuss these daily devotions with.  Grow stronger together.

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement