Restoration 101

For twenty years I work in construction doing various types of carpentry. The jobs that were the most fun were those where you got to restore an older building to look like it did when it was originally built. When I did this type of work it was a constant reminder that if I didn’t keep up with the repairs to my own home it could suffer the same consequences.

Paul is instructing those who "catch" someone in sin to beware. They have a responsibility to RESTORE...NOT DESTROY. And it comes with a warning "beware, lest yo suffer a similar fate." We are to help others become all that they were meant to become in Christ. This doesn’t mean that we ignore their sin or simply "brush it off" but we are to do this in a gentle, loving manor. In Matthew 7:1-5 we are told to examine ourselves first and then we can help the other individual.

There was a time when I laid the brick on my home. There were 10,000 brick to lay and I was set to lay them all by myself. That did not happen! My three children (who lived at home), lots of friends from church and others came by to help and make the job easier. Although we only worked on it a couple days a week it only took a few month to get the job done because the work was spread between many people.

We are not meant to live the Christian life in solitude. We are to help (and open to being helped) others.

Gal 6:1-10 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 B ear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5 For each one will bear his own load.

Explore for yourself
1. What are we to do IF we catch someone in a trespass? HOW? WHY?
2. What preventative steps should we take?
3. How are we to respond if someone shares a struggle they are having?
4. Why does pride (self reliance-superior attitude) have no place in the Christian’s life?


When being around others think of going out of your way to help restore them, just like Christ is willing to do for you.