Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.
You who are spiritual—To me, being spiritually minded means being in constant contact with the Holy Spirit, being led by and always looking out for new insights from Him, asking for directions, abiding in God, and being in constant fellowship with Him. With that kind of insight and wisdom, one can see other people’s shortcomings because one sees in the spirit and not just with their senses.
In a spirit of gentleness - If you see in the spirit, you will easily answer in the spirit, meaning restore by speaking in love. In love, which doesn’t mean nice talking but wanting the very best for the other person, hoping that the person will be completely restored to Christ and walking closer than ever with Him without any further harm to the soul.
In gentleness also means not pouring out the whole load at one time, perhaps, but being guided by the Holy Spirit and discerning how best to reveal the truth about what is needed at the moment. That’s in love.
Each one looking to yourself—That’s a big one. Keep your eyes open because you don’t want to be tempted to stumble.
The golden rule: If you see someone else’s fault, first check with God to see if you may have the same problem. I believe God showed me this long ago, and it has proved itself quite profitable. So often, the enemy pointed out a fault in another person to me that I turned it around against him and for my advantage, saying, “Thank you, enemy, for pointing it out.”, then take it before the Lord. Now, it’s a win/win situation and doesn’t happen quite as often anymore. Go figure.
Matthew 7:1-2 Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
Be careful with your advice if you haven’t been in their shoes yet. So many people reflect on what they know and give you their opinion instead of asking for godly counsel, which is usually more damaging than helpful. That’s not love, and God may very well allow you to go through a similar circumstance to get a rebuke. It is after you have lived through something and gained victory through faith and wisdom, that you are strengthened to help a brother.
Matthew 7:3-5 how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?
Luke 6:39-40 A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.
2 Corinthians 1:4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
This goes closely with point 2. Be careful not to condemn. You may start feeling too good by giving advice and exalting yourself. God will not let that go by and put you in your place. It may be painful and make you stumble, but He loves you too much not to.
Romans 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Also, consider that nobody feels good about being corrected, so keep in mind what you would be receptive to. The truth is that the truth hurts, at least for the first moment. The brother who sins probably did not do it on purpose and, unaware of it, will be rather shocked at first and have to settle with pride, anger, disbelief, and more until the Holy Spirit can bring conviction. This is not the time for any harsh correction, which will most likely bring you disapproval with God.
Matthew 7:12 In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
2 Corinthians 7:8-9 For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— 9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.
You want to keep your eyes on Jesus all the way around. It will keep you from those temptations, and you will be more likely to help your brother.
Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.