The sharpener and the pencil are very good friends.  When I was in elementary school, I had a bad habit of losing my pencil sharpeners.  Whenever I did, I would sharpen my pencils with a razor.  One day I cut my finger...pretty bad.  As my father cleaned and bandaged me up, he said something that has remained with me all my life --- "Your pencil is useless without a sharpener".  He was absolutely correct.  Whenever my pencil was blunt, my sharpener came to its rescue by sharpening it and getting it ready once again for good, neat work.  My sharpener never for once disappointed my pencil.
 
Do you have a sharpener?  This question, simple as it may look, is fundamental to the process of your growth and progress in the things of God.  The pencil and sharpener relationship can be seen between David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi, Elisha and Elijah.  A sharpener is simply an encourager --- someone who motivates you to take a course of action or continue doing something because of the potential they see beyond the "dull edges".
 
Do you have friends that sharpen you?  Are you a friend that sharpens others?  Reevaluate your friendships and determine today not only to be a sharpener but to keep sharpeners (not razors!) around you.

Stay above...always.