Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. (Proverbs 9:7-9)
Men have many responses to rebuke, don't they? Some will scoff and say you are wrong about them. Others will argue vehemently that you have made wrong decisions yourself, so how could you possibly judge their actions as wrong. Still some will find any rebuke as belittling, cowering as a child scorned, afraid of what others will think should they find out what they have 'done wrong'. When a child of God is rebuked, it is a definite sign they are loved too much to be allowed to continue in their folly.
We may not judge one another - it isn't our place to act as 'judge', but God does ask us to look out for the welfare of one another. We aren't just to turn a blind eye to another's wrong actions. As much as is possible, we must gently guide them back toward making wise choices. Does that mean we criticize or condemn their actions? Absolutely not! It simply means we recognize their actions as contrary to God's commands and LOVINGLY seek to see them restored.
You teach the wise, not the foolish. You bring insight to the righteous because you know they will embrace it and learn from it. When we look out for one another, we might see certain actions that are 'red flags' the other one may not easily see themselves. We find ways to point them in the right direction, away from those red flags, so they can be safe, secure, and at peace within their hearts.
A word to the wise, though. Don't correct others for actions you have been engaging in yourself. That is hypocritical. Take care of you own sin first. The, as God leads, become an example of his grace and wisdom to those who may also struggle with making right choices similar to the ones you are now making. We won't be able to help another learn until we have learned our own lesson first. Just sayin!
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