Are you your brother’s keeper?
What does this statement really mean? This statement came from Cain after he killed his brother Abel for jealously. God was pleased with Abel’s sacrifice but not with Cain’s. So Cain picked up a rock and killed his brother in a fit of jealous rage. The Lord asked Cain where his brother was and Cain responded by saying: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” God knew before the question was asked what had been done, but he was looking for some remorse from Cain, and found none.
The answer of this question is yes, we are our brother’s keeper, not just blood brother but all of our Christian brothers. We are told in the Bible to edify one another. We are also told to hold each other accountable. If you know one of your Christian friends who are walking on the wrong side of the line drawn between right and wrong, we are told in the Bible to take a witness and go talk to that friend. Find out what is going on with them and remind them what the right thing to do is.
We are also called to lift each other up in prayer. This is the best way we can be our brother’s keeper. The Bible warns us not to remember wrongs, and to forgive each other. Lift up one another and help each other to be strong in the faith. If someone is having a hard time with something, take them to lunch and listen to them. Let them know that you care and are praying for them.
The worst thing you can do to someone is talk behind their back. Instead; Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. It is better to say something good about that person. My mother use to say; “If you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all!” I have found that is very good advise. Talking somebody down never helps them or yourself.
Yes! We are our brother’s keeper, and when you are someone’s keeper you protect them against those things that would hurt them. You should help them be the best they could be.
As parents we need to stop our children from talking bad about anyone. If we hear them saying derogatory remarks about someone, we need to remind them that those people need prayer not backbiting. A mantra we used at our house was: Friends may come and go, but enemies are forever!
We as authors sometimes use controversial slander against the good guys in our stories. This always stirs up sympathy for our underdogs and helps us bring the heroes to the foreground. Don’t we wish it would be that easy to recover from such vicious attacks in real life! Let us all be our Brother’s Keepers!
And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Genesis 4:8-10
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Matthew 25:35
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Romans 14:19