Restoration or humiliation, it's your choice!

If we say we care, yet, do not hold those we love accountable, what are we truly saying? (Galatians 6:1) If we know someone was about to do themselves harm what would you do? Would you take the chance the plan may pass, or would you intervene? These I think are great questions for all of us who say we care. Who want nothing but the best for those we love and care deeply about.

Accountability, is not as bad as we make it out to be. Nor is it as frightening as we make it out to be! It can actually be a life saving, face saving, honor saving grace. Galatians 6:1 tells us, and this is just one verse, Brothers, if anyone is caught in a transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

We are supposed to do this, we are not to put it off, and we are to do it gently and without judgement, lest we too could fall. It is not a scary thing, it is not a hurtful situation. That is just something we get in our thinking, that keeps us from doing the right thing. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Matthew 22:38) I can always remember hearing people say, if you knew, why didn't you say something? How many others know?

We need accountability. We need to care further than we do. We need to worry less about hurting feelings, and help to possibly save our friend, and or family from unnecessary embarrassment! We are to care more about restoration than humiliation! Romans 15:1-3 says, "We who are strong, have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on me."

If we were restoring a home, a car, a yard, whatever, we would do it wholeheartedly, so what was restored would reflect of us! Why would we think any less of those we love and say we care about. Are they not also a reflection of us? Are we not seeing them as the image of God who created them? We need to. We need to stop sparing our feelings to hopefully save theirs!