My brothers and sisters,
if anyone among you should stray from the truth
and someone bring him back,
he should know that whoever brings back a sinner
from the error of his way will save his soul from death
and will cover a multitude of sins. (Jas 5:19-20)
So often, in life, we set ourselves up as judge, jury, and executioner. We do not give people the benefit of the doubt. We do not allow for people’s imperfections. We do not accept people’s weaknesses. Instead, it seems that so many people go for the throat of others, taking them down in the process.
Just what good is accomplished by that?
We might make ourselves feel better or more superior; however, that will not get us anywhere in the long run because, after all, it is not this world that is our destination but, rather, eternity with God.
God would not be pleased with our destroying other people’s lives or reputations. God would not be pleased with our wanton disregard of the needs and feelings of others. God would not be pleased with our making ourselves great over the ruin of another.
No.
God is pleased when we seek out the lost and bring them back.
We could look at others in their sinfulness, judge them, and have nothing to do with them. Or, we could challenge them and lovingly bring them back to the Lord.
If we do so, James tells us, we will not only win that person’s life back but will also benefit ourselves by covering a multitude of our own sins.
Do we want to “get ahead” in life and be pleasing to God?
There is a way: bring someone else back into the fold.
FAITH ACTION: Is there someone whom we have been keeping out of our lives because of that person’s errant ways? Reach out to that person and encourage him or her to change his or her life.