August 12, 2025
Becky Sweat
Sometimes the differences we see in people are not just varying personalities, but behavior that goes against God’s laws. Now, sometimes people sin willfully, but that’s not what I’m addressing here. Rather, we might have friends who are generally striving to live God’s way of life, yet they’re doing something that is contrary to biblical teachings, which they don’t seem to be aware of. They might not even realize how they’re hurting themselves or others. 
In that situation, we need to be willing to go to them with our concerns (Galatians 6:1, Matthew 18:15). Once we’ve done that, we should allow them the time they need to change their ways.
We should be supportive and patient with other people as they go through their Christian journeys and God helps them see the flaws they need to work on. This includes not overreacting or harshly judging them for their offenses, and not gossiping about their faults.
This is a teaching echoed throughout the Bible. We’re instructed to “Make allowance for each other’s faults” (Colossians 3:13, NLT), “Uphold the weak” and “Be patient with all” (1 Thessalonians 5:14), and with longsuffering, to be “bearing with one another in love”
(Ephesians 4:2). When we’re patient with others as they struggle to overcome their shortcomings, it strengthens our connections with them as they will be able to tell we want what’s best for them, that we’re not going to give up on them, and we’re committed to the relationships.