“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” - Proverbs 27:17

Sometimes the wisest thing we can do is seek counsel from others who love God and love us enough to tell us the truth.

Pride tells us we should have all the answers. Wisdom tells us we need other people. The process of iron sharpening iron is not always comfortable. It involves friction, heat, and pressure. But the result is a sharper, more effective tool. In the same way, allowing others to speak into our lives can be uncomfortable, but it makes us wiser and more effective for God’s kingdom.

The key is choosing the right people to sharpen us. We need friends who love Jesus more than they love our approval. We need mentors who will ask the hard questions and counselors who will point us back to Scripture. Wisdom is often found in community, not in isolation.

Early in my ministry, I made a decision that I thought was wise but that caused significant problems. A trusted friend sat me down and lovingly showed me how my pride had blinded me to some obvious issues. It was painful to hear, but it was exactly what I needed. That conversation taught me the value of having people in my life who love me enough to challenge my thinking.

Identify someone in your life who demonstrates godly wisdom and whose perspective you trust. Schedule time with them this week to discuss a decision you are facing or to simply ask for their input on how you are growing spiritually.

Lord, thank You for placing people in my life who can help sharpen me and make me wiser. Give me the humility to seek counsel when I need it and the discernment to choose advisors who will point me toward You. Help me be the kind of friend who can also speak wisdom into others’ lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.