“It’s really none of my business. “Besides, what right do I have to say anything to them?”
Individualism and personal freedom dominant our world today. They sound like noble ideas, but they actually run counter to what Scripture teaches.
- God implies that we are our brother’s keeper. (Genesis 4:9)
- He encourages us to “interfere” in the lives of those involved in sin. (Galatians 6:1-3) (James 5:19-20).
God tells us that we weren’t created for individualistic isolation, but rather for caring community. (Gen. 2:18) (Ecc. 4:9-12).
In Joshua chapter 22, the Israelites on the west side of the Jordan river learn their brothers and sisters on the east side of the river have sinned. They don’t say, “What they do over there is their business. God will deal with them. It doesn’t really effect use anyway.” Instead, the people to the west go to those in the east, and seek their restoration. They even offer to bring their eastern brothers and sisters back home with them and share their land with them. The people of the west cared enough about their eastern brothers and sisters to be assertive and get involved.
This may feel like intruding, but we are our brother’s keeper. We are to get involved when others are drifting into sin, in hopes of restoring them to the community. As God’s people, we are not called to be a collection of individuals, but rather a community of care and concern for one another.
So, in love, gentleness, and humility, get involved in reaching out to your brother and sisters struggling with sin.
