What is my response to the failing of another?

I know what I want it to be: Cover it with compassion, mercy, forgiveness, support, encouragement, prayer, and love.

“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends” (Proverbs 17:9).

Whose love is being sought here?

The erring one’s, for sure.

It strikes me this morning, though, that such a response also seeks God’s love as well. Not that anything we can do helps us merit God’s love, of course. However, there’s a solid Biblical foundation for stating that God responds to us as we respond to others.

Proverbs 17:27 also caught my attention this morning:

“He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.”

It seems the more I (think I) know, the more I have to resist the urge to say more. So this verse is one of those proverbial timely reminders for me.