Don't judge, help

Gal. 5:26-6:5

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

• What is the motivation for your temptation to judge others?
• What is your first thought when you see someone sinning?
• What is your first thought when you find out someone is caught in sin?
• What should you do when these situations occur?
  
• Why does God warn you about being tempted when you try to help a fellow Christian in sin?
• How often do you compare your actions to the actions of others, whether good or bad actions?

Harold's Musings:
I wonder what the ratio is between the number of lessons/sermons I have heard about the fruit of the Spirit and this passage that follows it. Probably fairly high. The fruit of the Spirit can be abstract. This passage is nothing but real. It uncovers our pride of being righteous and tells us not to be that way. I have grown much less judgmental about others sins as I realize how often I have failed God. I have a ways to go. It is so easy to be aloof around those who are caught in 'bad' sins, avoiding the person like a Pharisee would. It is so easy to proclaim some Bible verse to them, wielding it like a sword. It is messy to embrace the person, to admit that you have sinned, to tell them to call you any time, to just be there. Lord, forgive us of our arrogance.