Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

Tucked away, in the middle of the narrative about Cain and Abel is a question that most people answer incorrectly – “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  First let me say, how brazen this reply was from a man with blood on his hands to answer the question of an all knowing and all-powerful God concerning Cain’s brother. There is much to learn from the passage in (Genesis 4:1-12) about how sin lies in wait with a desire to rule over us (Gen. 4:7) but that instead we should rule over it, however I’d like to draw down on the impertinent question in (v.9) “am I my brother’s keeper” because in light of the current state of the world both prior to and in the grips of the corona virus “pandemic,” it is a question to be addressed and answered by each of us.

I recently read a story on LinkedIn telling about of a couple of Marines who, as pilots were regularly tested on tactics, weapons systems etc. The two “senior pilots” were very knowledgeable and well-studied so as to avoid having their reputations tarnished in those testing situations. In advance of an upcoming weapons test, some younger and less experienced pilots entered into the squadron; the senior pilots did not know and did not care about how or whether the new guys were ready for it. When the “smoke” from the test cleared and they were graded it came as no surprise to the senior guys when they “aced” the test; the new guys however all failed and received a well deserved chewing out but it was when the tactics officer called the senior guys out that the real surprise came – they were chewed out for their irresponsible failure to train their younger “brothers.” This is what the author wrote about it, “We had a responsibility to actively seek out the less experienced pilots, teach them and guide them along the path to success.” It was his understanding from that chewing out by a tactics officer that he WAS his brother’s keeper.

How do you respond when those around you struggle, falter or fail? What’s more, what are you doing to help them succeed?

Are we our brother’ (or sister’s) keeper as Christians?

Perhaps we’re too competitive with each other to care about how our teammate on the field of life – be they a brother in the faith or a fellow human being – is making out, let alone to come alongside them and offer them a word of encouragement or a helping hand. It’s unfortunate, but sometimes it takes a global pandemic to wake people up and even then, many draw down on the one thing that matters most to them – their own survival. But what if more of us adapted the attitude of Jesus “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:6–8)

Jesus self-sacrificially laid everything down for the sake of others.

When Paul tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church (see Ephesians 5:25) he was pointing to the self-sacrificial mind of Christ towards all mankind and showing us that esteeming others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3) and looking out for the interests of others (Philippians 2:4) is a Biblical mandate for the follower of Christ.

Consider for a moment that the four men who went to great lengths to get their paralyzed friend in front of Jesus (Luke 5:17-20) were acting as their brother’s keeper. The (HB) word shâmar here translated keeper also means guard, protector and attendant – It conveys the idea that love for one another should drive us to look out for each other; love and concern drove those men to action for their brother’s sake.

Perhaps you don’t think the other guy is YOUR responsibility? Consider these passages:

While arguing for a faith that does, James wrote: “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?” (James 2:15-16)

In response to people seeking to know what “works worthy of repentance” looked like John the Baptist said: ““He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”” (Luke 3:11)

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:16–18)

Laying down our lives doesn’t always mean to physically die but often it means to lay aside our self-interests and selfishness for the sake of those in need (see also Acts 2:44-45, 4:32).

The prophet Isaiah wrote: “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?” (Isaiah 58:6–7)

Jesus said, ““You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:39)

Concerning whatever spiritual , physical or emotional burden or weight, Paul wrote: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)

Again Paul wrote: “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:34–35)

Are you your brother’s keeper? Like it or not – YES!

We live in a moment of crisis. People need supplies, people need hope, people need encouragement, people need support and most of all people NEED Jesus. There are people in our community working to meet those needs – first responders, doctors and nurses, truck drivers, people in various aspects of Christian ministry like Christ’s Kitchen in Victoria. In the days, weeks and perhaps even months that this crisis continues, pray and seek the Lord for ways that you can attend to, protect and guard your brother or sister in the faith as well as your fellow man. The difference you make may be eternal…