Be the He

(Proverbs 25:10 KJV)  Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

There will be times when you and I are expected to be the “he” in this verse.  The issue is gossip.  On some level most of us have been guilty of this at times.  You might think not but then you either need to improve your memory or expand your definition of gossip.  I would hope that you would have repented and changed, either because the Holy Spirit simply brought conviction or you were publicly exposed and didn’t want to experience that again.

In between those two are the times when you and I are expected to step up to the plate for the benefit of the guilty party.  We have this responsibility to each other as part of the family of God.  We are to hold each other accountable.  In the New Testament the words are reprove, rebuke and correct, but we find the concept in the Old Testament also.

(Ezekiel 33:6 KJV)  But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

This does not mean running down the street yelling, “Turn or burn!”  It does mean being honest with brothers and sisters in Christ.  Usually this will be people that you have earned the right to speak to.

So?  Be the “he”.  There might be someone who will repent in time because you loved them enough to speak out.