Sunday, April 28, 2013 

By: Gwen Hitt

Living Stones

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."

Yesterday was my 40th Class Reunion. It was great to see friends that I had not seen in many years. It was also fun to spend time with those friends that I see on a more regular basis.

As I mingled with this wonderful group of individuals, I found myself reflecting on the different levels of friendship. I once read that there are actually four levels of friendship - acquaintances, casual friends, close friends, and intimate friends.

The acquaintance level is characterized by occasional contact. At the casual friendship level, individuals discover common interests, activities, and concerns. The close friendship level requires that individuals help each other to reach life goals by exhorting one another. Although there are some similarities between the close friendship and intimate friendship levels, there is a major difference.

Intimate friends not only share the same motivation to exhort each other, but they also celebrate with each other in the good times and comfort each other in the bad times. Intimate friends consistently pray for each other and are able to speak truthfully to each other -- in love.

I believe that today's verse is referring to the intimate friendship level. We all need friends who will love us enough to offer honest feedback to help us improve.

Does that mean that friends will always agree and live in perfect harmony? Unfortunately, it doesn't. In 1 Peter 2:5, the Bible describes believers as "living stones" being used to build God's house. Stones do not fit as well together as man-made bricks do. However, once stones are placed together, they have much more character and beauty. As living stones, there will be times that we don't always comfortably fit together, but today's verse says that friendship "sharpens."

When we allow our Godly friendships to sharpen who we are, together we are able to be used by God to build His dwelling place...even if that process may be uncomfortable.

My challenge to you today is to take a little time to evaluate your friendships. Once you have identified those that you consider to be your intimate friends, I would encourage you to access whether you have "sharpened" that person through prayer and words of truth, love, and encouragement.

Dear Lord, I thank You for the wonderful friends You have placed in my life. Through their love and concern for me, I have developed into a better person. Help me to love my friends and encourage them just as You love me.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.