How Not To Chop A Sweet Potato
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17
Insight
It was quite possibly the most laughable “college kid” thing I’ve done to date. About a month ago, I moved back to Chapel Hill to begin my senior year at the best university in the world (sorry, not sorry to my friends who back a different shade of blue). I was the first of my housemates to move in, so my kitchen was lacking quite a few tools. I had a hankering for sweet potatoes, but I failed to remember that my housemate wouldn’t be bringing our knife set for another week.
Hence began my perilous attempt to chop a sweet potato with a pizza cutter. Needless to say, this decision did not accurately reflect the quality of my education.
Thankfully, I made it out of this endeavor alive, and with all my fingers still attached to my hands. It didn’t take me long to realize how unwise this undertaking really was. I quickly admitted defeat and began knocking on neighbors’ doors to see if I could borrow a kitchen knife.
That day, I needed others to do something as simple as chopping a potato. I needed those around me to provide me with the tools necessary to complete the task at hand. As silly as this story is, it reflects some critical spiritual realities.
In our walks with Jesus, we need fellowship with others to fulfill our designed purpose. A knife that isn’t sharpened is still a knife—but it cannot properly do what it was made to do. Similarly, without Christ-centered community, we are unable to live the life we were created to live. Living the Christian life without others is as futile as trying to chop a sweet potato with a pizza cutter. We were created to glorify God, enjoy Him, and honor Him by serving His children. We cannot fulfill this God-given purpose without the support and accountability that others provide.
Christ-centered, spiritual friendship isn’t always easy-going and glittery. Spiritual fellowship with others challenges us and changes us. When iron sharpens iron, sparks fly. Dulled metal is shaved away. Similarly, providential relationships help us wear away old habits that are left-over from our old life. True friends remind us to live into the new identity Christ has given us. True friends call us out on our mistakes and remind us to embrace God’s grace for us.
When our friends call us out, we cannot respond in defensiveness. Rather, we humbly accept redirection and accountability that is born out of love. If we can do that, we’ll be sharpened.
We cannot just receive the gift of life-altering friendship. We must be loyal friends to those around us. To sharpen those around us, we may have to step into uncomfortable conversations.
God, in His love for us, calls us out and turns us around when we are heading toward our own destruction. He reminds us that He is the Source of Life, and that we cannot find true satisfaction apart from Him. Sometimes, we must provide similar “tough love” to those closest to us. Emboldened by the Spirit, we can find ways to humbly and gently help our friends turn back to God when they are letting sin rule in their lives. We don’t have these conversations to shame our friends for misbehaving. We cannot approach these conversations with a sense of self-righteousness and spiritual superiority.
True love calls out the darkness lurking in the corners of our lives. Love invites us to step out of habits and rhythms of life that are unfulfilling and hurtful to those around us. Love sharpens us. The love we give should sharpen those around us.
Reflection
Are you letting your relationships challenge and change you? When those closest to you try to hold you accountable, do you respond with defensiveness or humility?
Today, how can you be the kind of friend that reminds others to live boldly for Christ?
Prayer
Abba, thank You for the relationships You provide me. Every last one serves a divine purpose. Help me to receive correction and accountability from those You’ve placed in my life. Let me humble myself and admit when I am not living according to my true purpose. Lord, as You use those around me to form me, help me to serve a similar function in the lives of others. Give me boldness in my friendships—show me how to direct others back to You, the Source of all Life and comfort and joy. Pointing others to You is the most loving thing I can do. Help me to love Your children as You direct me, even when it makes me uncomfortable. I love You, Father. Thank You for Your Son and Your perfect example of sacrificial love. Amen.
Port City writer Kate Redenbaugh wrote today’s devotional.