Proverbs 24:16 -- On Arising Up and Helping Each Other

"For a just man falleth seven times, and ariseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief."
Proverbs 24:16


I like the idea of getting up again... of not quitting.  I think what God is telling us here is that the fundamental difference between just and wicked is not in amount or intensity of sin, but in continuing to try to do the right thing and improve.

We all fall down, and sometimes in the same hole over and over and over again, and jump instead of fall... but if we get up, repent, and keep working at it, with God's help we'll eventually get it, and walk around that hole instead.  Doesn't mean we won't fall in another along the path at some point, but it's part of the process of learning to walk in God's way and on his path, and understanding why his way is narrow, so that it avoids all of those pits we keep walking into. :)

The other thing I think we can learn here is perhaps to help each other a little bit more.  Getting up again, trying again, makes the difference.  Let's work on helping that happen, and not making it harder by making each other feel like we should stay down and not try again.  Rather than falling into mischief, let's help each other up, so we can all get to the promised land together. :)