More Than A Mentor

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Erica paused at the door of the church, taking a deep breath before she stepped inside. She was excited about joining the youth group at her church, but she was also nervous. With kids ranging in age from middle to high school in the group—and having never spent much time with kids so much older than she was—she felt unsure about fitting in.

Despite her initial hesitance, she quickly felt welcomed. Within just a few weeks, she’d become friends with a girl named Chrissy. Her new friend was a junior, but despite the age gap, Chrissy went out of her way to spend time with Erica.

“Hey, do you want to go out to eat with us?” Chrissy asked her one night after youth group, motioning her over to a group of girls gathered off to the side. “You can ride with me. I’ll drop you off afterward.”

Erica’s face lit up with excitement as she quickly checked with her stepdad about going with Chrissy.

After that, Chrissy often gave Erica rides to youth group events and included Erica in her circle of friends in a way that made her feel like a real friend, not a little kid tagging along.

Erica’s friendship with Chrissy boosted her confidence and helped her sense she truly belonged in the group. It also helped set the tone for the rest of her time in youth group. Erica grew in her faith and began serving others. Years later, Erica continues to believe that Chrissy’s friendship influenced both her relationship with God and the way she learned to treat friends of all ages.

The Bible reminds us that, as friends, we sharpen one another in the same way that iron does. When iron blades are rubbed together, they both become sharper. When our friends are good at spending time with God, being kind to others, and serving well, those good patterns and behaviors challenge us to act that way too. Just as iron makes iron more useful, good friends encourage us to be more effective.

Things to Think About

• In what ways have your friends influenced or “sharpened” you in certain areas of your life?
• Do you feel like you have helped influence your friends to grow in specific areas of their lives? Why or why not?

DAILY ACT OF FRIENDSHIP

Think of a friend or mentor who inspires you to be “sharpened” in a specific area of life. Make a list of a few friends you’d like to encourage in the same way.