IRON SHARPENS IRON

One thing about me is I NEVER tell people what they should believe. That is not in my nature to force my opinion and understanding of a matter on others. But anyone who knows me, knows I do love sharing things that appeal to me with anyone interested in the same things I am. Or, with anyone willing to listen. That's probably because my "love language" is quality time. So, sharing is one way I express quality time. Therefore, I share what I share on social media because it is a reflection of my personality – my “love language,” which is quality time. When I post content on social media, I never am looking for likes, shares, or whether a person agrees with me or not, or accepts what I am expressing or not. I share what I share because I love to see people better themselves, and sharing is one way I feel I can help people to grow if that is truly what they are interested in doing.

Let me add this. Quality time is more important to me than hugs, kisses, expressions of I love you, gifts, etc. I'm not saying I don't enjoy those other things because they are important. But quality time is at the core of my soul. That will always win my heart, friendship, closest, trust, respect, and loyalty, more than those other things I mentioned above. 
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We are at different levels

At any rate, the point I want to arrive at is that we are all at different levels when it comes to understanding and even interpretation. And that's a good thing, especially if what you know and understand is beyond what I know and understand. Therefore, I can learn something from you. I'm always looking for people from all different walks of life whose knowledge, maturity, understanding, insightfulness, and wisdom are beyond my intellect or natural abilities. I yearn for these kinds of people in my life who can challenge me to think beyond my own mindset, habits, knowledge, and understanding. In fact, I am drawn to these types of people, whether young, old, in between, black, white, purple, red, or whatever.

For instance, it's not a day that goes by when my 6-year-old granddaughter pushes me in some way to become a better person because I allow myself to be corrected and taught by her. In fact, she has even corrected me scripturally one time concerning something I taught her to do. In that situation, from her perspective, I violated a principle I taught her and she immediately called me on it. Initially, I wanted to correct her because she’s 6, she was looking at it from the wrong perspective and I was trying to justify my behavior. But I caught myself and said. No, despite the fact she is 6, she was right from her perspective. She was right. So, I acknowledged and received this 6-year-old counsel. Why? 
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1. I am always, ALWAYS open to counsel and corrections, no matter who is the source. As long as you don't come to me with nonsense, foolishness, or the twisting of the scriptures. 

2. I'm not opinionated. Therefore, I don't highly value my opinions or knowledge to the point where I am not open to other people's understanding, knowledge, or opinions that are different from mine. Again, as long as you don't come to me with nonsense, foolishness, or the twisting of the scriptures. 

3. I never enter any conversation with the expectation that another person must see it my way. They must agree with what I think and or believe. However, you MUST allow me to voice my views without being aggressively argumentative or debatable. 

4. I don't put stuff out there that I really don't have a firm understanding of and I am not confident that my understanding is accurate. I make sure my stuff is right so I can avoid senseless and stupid arguments or debates with people. So, if that is your angle, we have nothing in common and I won’t give you the time of MY day. I got more important things to do concerning the Kingdom work and my professional and personal lifestyle than going back and forth with anyone about opinions. 

5. I don’t take an argumentative disposition about anything. Yet, right now, I can name some high-profile Christian social media platforms whose social media ministry is based on just that. They purposely look for content that will stir up the pot, in order to drive traffic to their page, force their opinions or belief system (doctrines/interpretations) on others, and or to get people to rally up so they can debate and or argue about their opinions – whose right and whose wrong. You won’t find me wasting my time on such fruitless conversations or debates. I will take a long break or remove myself from your platform, personal page, or conversation. Or choose that this “relationship” does not work for me and put distance between us or ghost ya before I give my peace away. It is not in my nature nor my interest to be despiteful or argumentative. 

I am here on social media to build up those who want to grow and be built up only. My Facebook page description says this.

​“To encourage. To inspire. To show people God.”

Check my profile posting history from the inauguration of any of our social media pages and it is consistent. My content consistently encourages, inspires, and shows people GOD whether you agree with the content I post or not. I post content based only on those 3 principles as GOD leads me - To encourage. To inspire. To show people God. If GOD ain’t telling me to share anything, then my social media pages are silent. So, let me be clear – this needs to be repeated. Whether you agree or not with my content on my social media platforms is not the premises behind my posting.
 
Those who know me well know this about myself. I will only argue or debate about things with a person if I know that I know if I don’t speak up, then your blood is on my hands. (See Ezekiel 33:1-6). So, in cases like that, I will fight and go to war for, with, and over you. But even in those cases, I won’t force anyone, even my own children to do things, to see things my way. And all my children will verify that about me. If they are living messily - meaning my children. I will fight, lose my life, and go to war for, with, and over them. But if they choose to live messily. I won’t force them to do what I know is best and better for them to do. When I know I have said and done all I can do to help a person and they still want to stay in their mess or stay in their erroneous or lack of knowledge. Then I simply wipe my hands clean and pray for them in private whenever GOD places them in my spirit. But the reality about the fact is I am like that with everyone, even complete strangers. I will fight, lose my life, and go to war for, with, and over them. And those who know me well will verify that about me. 

6. Finally, I know I don't always get things right or sometimes my understanding of something can be off. I'm not trying to be arrogant when I say this about myself. But it is rarely the case when I am wrong about something or someone. And those who really know me, I'm confident they will say that about me. If there is anything those who are close to me will say, that frustrates them about me is this. Them having to say to me, "Okay, you are right." LOL, because often, I’m right. Again, I am truly not trying to be arrogant – but it is what it is. I’m usually on point. And that is the case because I am very open-minded about 98 percent of things and I'm very careful about putting anything out there, even when I'm dealing with family or friends. Those who really know me know I choose my words wisely. Now, I’m not going to water down or sugarcoat my words. But I’m cautious with my word choices. I probably give too much thought when choosing my words or what or how to say something to someone. But that is probably because I do not have an argumentative or aggressive spirit. So, my intention is always to help someone to grow and improve themselves when I speak. Just the same way I expect those who I allow in my circle to do for me. We have a saying around here. “Be transparent, open, and honest.” So, let me add. Be transparent, open, honest, and respectful when we speak with one another. Otherwise, we have nothing in common.
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iron sharpens iron

What's my whole point? We have too many Christians whose own personal knowledge or opinions are more valuable to them than actually growing spiritually. Therefore, they miss the value and truth behind the Scripture principle that says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17).

Some of y'all prefer to operate with dull knives that are coated with only your opinions, your views, your understanding, your interpretation. Therefore, you will cut people in order to force them to see it your way. To accept your truth, your understanding, your knowledge, your interpretation. Instead of applying WHAT THE LORD SAID HERE. “… Iron sharpens iron….”

In the case of two knives, even when they both are dull. One is always sharper than the other. And when you rub those two knives together, what does science say happens? They both become sharp. Like brand new knives.

​This is what Christians are supposed to do for and with one another. SHARPEN! Sharpen one another. That's what I love so much about the group GOD is building around me. We all have different views, personalities, backgrounds, understanding, knowledge, interpretation, etc., about stuff. But we never allow our differences to divide us or be the determining factor in whether we can like, support, or can roll with each or not. Instead, we sometimes debate about our differences in a HEALTHY way. In such cases, sometimes one changes the other's mindset about a matter. Other times, we realize that we both are right because we are either looking at a situation from different perspectives. Sometimes we realized a person has a deeper understanding and knowledge of a matter. Sometimes we just don't see eye to eye concerning a topic and so it's best to leave it there and agree to disagree. But we NEVER force our views, understanding, opinions, or knowledge down the throats of one another. That’s the standard, a requirement I place on my group, my inner circle, and those that I'm close to in my family as well as friends. If we cannot do that, then we have nothing in common. And as I tell every and anyone that I sense I am drawing close to or they express they want to have a closer relationship or friendship with me and I am agreeable to that. If this cannot be the standard that we are building here, let’s go no further. Because it certainly won’t work for me.
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If the church as a whole can ever grow to the points I expressed here –  especially this point. NEVER force your view, understanding, opinion, background, and or knowledge down the throat of one another. Then the church as a whole will be in a much healthier state. Because iron sharpens iron. IJS