Accountability and Refinement

As iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens another. One who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And one who cares for his master will be honored. As in water a face reflects the face, So the heart of a person reflects the person.
Proverbs 27:17-19

Notes

An important lesson in Proverbs 27:17 is the constructive act of conflict. Two people do not become sharper in idleness. They sharpen once they cross into each other. Fellow believers who never challenge or question one another are prone to remain dull and ineffective. In all areas of our lives, we find ourselves in different communities and relationships. We are not supposed to seek confirmation in our ideas but find the challenges in our arguments. The clash of ideas should strengthen us not divide us.

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Proverbs 27:5-6

Surrounding ourselves with strong believers can provide refinement. An honest acquaintance or relationship will kindly point out when someone they care about is doing something wrong or struggling with a decision. In these relationships, personality and conviction are honed. They are not allowed to sit aimlessly without account. As we grow older in our faith, we must be less lackluster and more contributory toward our fellow believers. We are part of the whole body, with Jesus as the head. We cannot remain unconditioned and expect other parts of the body to function properly.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:14-16

Aligning the act of constructive criticism and the posture of accountability causes growth and maturity. Likewise, having the mindset that we all are susceptible to reproach leads to a more humble posture. In so doing, fellow believers need not point out our faults, but lift each other up. We need to call our wrongs but do so in a way that is not judgmental. Our calling out should be more like a mentor than a drill sergeant. As iron hits iron, sparks fly from the friction. The end goal is to not break someone down but instead to encourage growth and resilience.

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

Whether we hold people accountable or not, our hearts reflect who we really are. The outer appearance can lie, but the heart is easily exposed. Pressure, adversity and pain bring forth the fruit of our journey. Are we more stable or less? Do we have more self-control or less? Do we care about other people or ourselves? Who we are will become evident to others as our words and actions reveal the true nature of our hearts.