Kevin DeYoung, in his excellent little e-book, “The Gift of Friendship,” offers a word picture that should make us all ask, “Which kind of friend am I?”

We all know the proverb: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Prov. 27:17). It’s a great word picture.

Ask yourself…

Am I sponge that never hurts anyone, but never helps much either?

Am I a sword that cuts to the quick but also destroys?

Or am I a stone, the kind of friend upon which others can be sharpened, made better and more mature?

Faithful friends make better stones than sponges or swords. (p. 7)

You can access the entire e-book here.