A friend of mine is in a peck of trouble through his own fault. Now that he is finally trying to deal with it he is encountering huge stumbling blocks. I find myself secretly thinking; “Well, you caused it. Now look at the mess you’re in.”

I’m no better than the disciples who asked Jesus about a blind man; “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2) In that day, they were always trying to fix a spiritual cause to every curse or blessing. If he was born blind there must have been some sin involved. We do the same thing today – or at least I have to admit I obviously do.

It’s not the right question. Yes, there is a law of sowing and reaping but we aren’t the ones responsible for tallying other people’s results. Jesus didn’t deal with “why” this happened; he just went ahead and gave the man sight. His interest was; “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” (Verse 4)

Rather than waste my time condemning, I need to come along side my brother till he is fully restored. If I don’t judge him then maybe I won’t be judged the next time I’m the one in a peck of trouble through my own fault. The church is a family and that’s what family is for.