Proverbs 24:11

The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about rescuing people from danger:

Proverbs 24:11 (ESV)

Rescue those who are being taken away to death;

hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

I have never had the chance to "save" someone.  A few years back we saw a boating accident in which three people were in the water.   I was the captain of our boat but one of the people on our boat jumped in and probably saved a young girl from bleeding to death.   I would imagine anyone would have had the inclination to save someone from certain peril.  This is probably our biggest issue: We don't calculate that others are in "certain" peril.  This proverb does that.   Solomon is telling us that we are to "deliver those who are taken away to 'death' ".  If they are staggering to "slaughter" we are to "hold them back."  However, we seldom see others as in such peril.  We think there is always time to repent.   We think the situation others may be in will give them time and space to make adjustment.   But, without wisdom (Christ) people are facing death with every breath they take.  Let's not stand by and let them sink in their despair ... let's hold them back and deliver them by given them the gospel message.