Fishersmen

Feb 23 

STAYING SHARP

What is a sharp character?

sharp, keen, acute mean having or showing alert competence and clear understanding. sharp implies quick perception, clever resourcefulness, keen suggests quickness, enthusiasm and a penetrating mind.

President Abraham Lincoln was asked one time, Abe you are a famous rail splitter. “If you were going to chop down a mighty Oak tree, how would you go about it.”  He replied, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe”

Men must prepare and steel themselves for any significant work.  Praying, putting on the full armor of God, seeking advice of other godly men sharpens us before any enterprise or battle we face.

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

God’s Word is truth, it is powerful and it reveals the truth about ourselves to help us have God’s mind on things as opposed to our fleshly desires.  Staying in God’s Word with keep us sharp, ready for good works. Jesus is described as the logos, God’s Word alive and He stayed prayerful, knew and quoted the scriptures to model living life well.

Proverbs 27:17 (ESV) Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Like minded Christian men need to be in relationship with each other sharing our goals and concerns and helping each other stay sharp for successful living in a fallen world.

Every man should have a Paul, a mentor in their life; a Timothy, a protégé that they can disciple and to whom they can pass on the faith and walk; a Barnabas, someone who can encourage and be a cheer leader when they are down; and a Nathan, an accountability partner who will keep them accountable and on God’s path for successful living.

Attend church regularly, join a men’s small group, stay in contact with your Paul, your Timothy, your Barnabas and your Nathan to live successfully.  Stay sharp men!