Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
This passage of Scripture is being ignored or actively taught against in these last days. What is a fault? Who is to judge it as a fault? Who can point out things as faults in the lives of others? These are the questions men pose so that their deeds are not pointed out as faults. The following is a section of commentary from John Wesley about this verse. It answers many of those questions posed by the world. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in any fault – By surprise, ignorance, or stress of temptation. Ye who are spiritual – Who continue to live and walk by the Spirit. Restore such an one – By reproof, instruction, or exhortation. Every one who can, ought to help herein; only in the spirit of meekness – This is essential to a spiritual man; and in this lies the whole force of the cure. Considering thyself – The plural is beautifully changed into the singular. Let each take heed to himself. Lest thou also be tempted Temptation easily and swiftly passes from one to another; especially if a man endeavours to cure another without preserving his own meekness.” John Wesley from his Notes on the Bible Faults are simple to define. It is a blunder in moral or spiritual behavior. At its infancy it is easily fixed. It could be a habit or something done without actually knowing it violates Christian behavior.
We had a young lady pushing hard toward womanhood in our church in New York. She was lovely in a modest way and was a delight for people to see and talk with. Somewhere she got the impression that her womanly charms needed to be seen. She began to wear immodest clothing and she got more attention, but it wasn’t the attention she deserved as a Christian young woman. One of our older ladies took her aside and spoke to her earnestly about her appearance. She struggled with the admonition. She wanted to be popular and since she had changed her dress she was much more popular with her peers. I think all budding young women go through that stage of life. They reject the advice (or demand) by their parents. The revel in the change in their popularity. Sad to say, many of them only find out the truth when it is too late to say no and they are stained with sin.
It would have been so easy to change when she had first been approached by the godly woman, yet she persisted until trouble came. Trouble is more than a loss of respect from others. Many times it is far greater than that.
It could tell you other stories from my forty years of ministry, but each of them makes me sad. It is important for those of the church to instruct those younger in Christianity. We are to guide and teach. We are to pray and preach. Yet each must make up their own mind.
“The memory of our own temptations and failures should make us very pitiful and tender. The Apostle does not speak, in this place, of premeditated sin, but of that by which we are entrapped and taken unawares. The most spiritual men in the Church are needed for this holy work of restoration, and they must do it with great meekness and humility. It is thus that we bear one another’s burdens; but there are some burdens that each must bear for himself alone, such as his own existence and personal accountability to God.” F.B.Meyer from Thru the Bible Day by Day As a Christian is our duty to try, by prayerful guidance, to bring someone back to the Biblical mode of living and lest you begin to judge me for what I am saying let me quote the verse that covers it all.
ICorinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
If we ask ourselves if we are bringing glory to God by our behavior and we can truthfully answer yes, then all is well. Some folks need a little prompting about something they are doing wrong, especially young people. They do not have a past to look back on to reflect on their mistakes. When we see young people heading down the path we were once on, we should at the very least warn them where that path leads, don’t you think?
Here is another verse to use as a proof text: IThessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Can you truthfully give thanks to God for what you are preparing to do? If not, my friend, let that pass without you participating.
One last thought, the devil will try to tell you that someone’s concern for you is them condemning you. That is not so. If you truly love someone you are concerned about their welfare and their direction. They will try to guide you back to a place of blessing. You see, it is Almighty God who gives us those standards to live by and many have learned their lessons the hard way. They want you to learn from their mistake and prosper with God’s Blessing. May the Lord’s Truth shine in you and on you that you might glorify Him.
