Careful how you think of others

Galatians 6:1-3 (The Message)
1 -3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.

In previous chapters the apostle has encouraged Christians to love and serve one another. Paul talked about how an angry temper would hinder our lives and keep us from showing the appropriate love for others. Paul continues to teach in the verses above about ministering to others. When someone falls into sin it is the duty of the Christian to help restore that person in a forgiving manner. Criticism should be reserved to examine one’s own self. For we are all sinners and we never know when we might need the same forgiveness granted to us. We should never think of ourselves above others; for we are sinners whose best of works to God are like filthy rags.

Imagine being in a restaurant and observing an individual nicely dressed ready for their next business appointment. Then you happen to see them drop some food on their clothes and as they get up to leave they are unaware of the stain. What should you do? The nice thing would be to make them aware of the problem. It would be embarrassing though if you tell them about the food on their clothes and then you find out you there is a glob of potato salad on your pants, which they tell you about. So we need to take care not only what we say to someone, but also how we present a problem someone. We should never think of ourselves as better for we might also have some stains on us called sin. Learn to extend grace, mercy and love to others just as Christ has done for you.