The Pleasures of Staying Sharp

As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 27:17

Hearing the clang and zing of two iron implements being rubbed together is a sort of conflict.  If the there was no friction between the two, the process would be doing very little for the sharpening of the blade.  This proverb is more than just a warning to have friends about – it is an injunction upon every believer to have people around who lovingly and faithfully challenge you.  There are ways that we can safeguard ourselves from all but the slightest levels of conflict and opposition to out viewpoints.  Even if our viewpoints and attitudes are totally correct (an incredible unlikelihood) surrounding ourselves with no one to challenge us to think critically and question makes us as useless as a dull blade in battle.