AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?
By: Dr. Mike Jones
If we as Christians take a moment to think about it, we would come to the conclusion that the phrase, “Am I My Brother’s Keeper” (asked by Cain), is actually one of the more thought-provoking questions in the entire Bible.
In Genesis 4, we find where Cain had killed his brother because God had accepted Abel’s offering, but not his own: and when the Lord asked him the where-about of his brother Abel, his response was, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Over the past few years, when we had the economic melt-down, you could see that a number of Americans were beginning to revert back to the ‘stingy-bengi’ mentality, which says, “Sorry, can’t help you: I only have enough for me, my wife, my two children – us 4 and no more!”
As Christians, we should not ask ourselves, “Am I my brother’s keep?” But the question should be, “What are the responsibilities we have to watch out for and care for one another?” Let’s look in the New Testament at some of our responsibilities to one another:
First, we are to LOVE one another, as commanded by Jesus in John 13:34-35, A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one for another.” The Apostle Paul took up his pen and wrote in Romans 13:7-8, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom is due; fear to whom fear is due; honour to whom honour. Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”
Second, how do we show our LOVE for one another? By receiving one another: The Apostle Paul stated in Romans 15:7, “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” By bearing one another’s burdens: Galatians 6:1-2, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” By forgiving one another: Ephesians 4:31-32, “” Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” By exhorting one another: Hebrews 3:12-13, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you and evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
(Adapted from the Teaching AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?: all Scripture references are taken from the KJV unless otherwise noted.)