Over the past few weeks we have studied the subject of "Spiritual Growth".
As continuation of this subject in order to help in our continuing to grow
in Christ and be pleasing to our Lord, we will be looking at some Old
Testament text and characters that provide examples worthy of emulating or
incorporating into our lives. This first lesson is close to my heart, in
that I have experienced the destruction of a congregation that ignored the
principles taught here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Am I My Brother’s Keeper?
Genesis 4:9
Perhaps one of the more thought-provoking questions in the Bible is that one
asked by Cain.... Cain had killed his brother because God had accepted
Abel’s offering, but not his own – Gen 4:3-8. When the Lord inquired
concerning Abel, Cain’s response was:
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen 4:9). This is a question we would do well
to ask ourselves today.... Are we our brothers’ keeper? Do we have a
responsibility to watch out for and care for one another? When one turns to
the New Testament, it becomes clear that the answer is in the affirmative.
In fact, there are many passages which emphasize our responsibilities to one
another. We are to “love one another” As commanded by Jesus - Jn 13:34-35 “A
new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have
loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know
that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."’; 15:12,17 ‘
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” –
“These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” As taught
by Paul - Ro 13:8 “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the
one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”; 1 Th 4:9 “Now concerning
brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you
yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,”. As instructed by
Peter - 1 Pe 1:22 “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth
for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,”
As stressed by John - 1 Jn 3:11 “For this is the message that you have
heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (note v.12 “We
should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother.
And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's
righteous.”), 23 “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name
of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.”;
4:7,11-12 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and
whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” – “Beloved, if God so
loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we
love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”; 2 Jn 5
“And now I ask you, dear lady--not as though I were writing you a new
commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning--that we love one
another.”
But how are we to express such love? Other passages can provide the answer
as to how we are to show our love for one another. We are to “receive one
another” - Ro 15:7 “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you
for the glory of God.” We are to “edify another” - Ro 14:19 “So then let us
follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify
one another.” We are to “serve one another” - Ga 5:13 “For you were called
to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the
flesh, but through love serve one another.” We are to “bear one another’s
burdens” - Ga 6:1-2 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you
who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch
on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so
fulfill the law of Christ.” We are to be “forgiving one another” - Ep 4:32
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in
Christ forgave you.” We are to be “submitting to one another” - Ep 5:21
“submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” We are to “exhort
one another” - He 3:12-13 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you
an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today,"
that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” We are to
“consider one another” - He 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one
another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the
habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the
Day drawing near.” We are to be “hospitable to one another” - 1 Pe 4:8-10
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude
of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has
received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's
varied grace:” In light of such “one another” passages, is there any doubt
that we are to be our brother’s keeper? But how well are we doing?
To stimulate our thinking and help us reexamine how well we are fulfilling
our obligations to one another, consider the following questions as we
evaluate our role as our brothers’s keeper. When one becomes a brother do we
receive them into the family of God, or ignore them? - Ro 15:7 “Therefore
welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Are
they properly assimilated in the family life of the congregation? Do they
remain on the fringe? -- If we do not even know their names, we can be sure
that we are failing as our brother’s keeper! Do we edify them, or put
stumbling blocks in their way? - Ro 14:19 “So then let us pursue what makes
for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” As individuals, are we “bodybuilders”,
encouraging the members of the body? Or are we like a cancer, weakening the
members of the body of Christ? By our own example; by our words, attitudes,
etc. -- It was said of Philemon that he refreshed the hearts of the brethren
do people say the same of us? Do we submit to them, or arrogantly rule over
them? - Ep 5:21 “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Do
we serve them in love, or expect them to serve us? - Ga 5:13 “For you were
called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity
for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Do we demonstrate
hospitality to them? - 1 Pe 4:8-10 “Above all, keep loving one another
earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one
another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one
another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:” By visiting them in their
need? By inviting them into your home (or accepting invitations to their
home)?
When a brother is overtaken in a fault do we even consider them? - He
10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good
works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Are we even aware of who they are? Are we ignorant of their problems? If so,
why? Maybe it is because we don’t assemble enough ourselves. We may “wonder
about them”, but that is not sufficient! Do they drift away, with no one
making an effort to reach them? Do we exhort them, lest they become hardened
by sin? - He 3:12-14 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an
evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But
exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of
you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if
indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” Or are we afraid to
confront them, for fear of running them away? If we truly love them and
approach them with humility, they are not likely to run away. If they do,
they are running away from God, not you! Remember, such exhortation is to be
daily! Perhaps we wait too long.... Are we willing bear their burdens? - Ga
6:1-2 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are
spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on
yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so
fulfill the law of Christ.” So as to help them overcome and become stronger.
Or do we rather not be bothered? Are we quick to forgive them when they
repent? - Ep 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Fear of not being forgiven and
accepted back into the family may keep some from repenting and returning to
the fold. Do we communicate a willingness to accept with open arms and offer
complete forgiveness?
How we answer such questions may reveal how well or poorly we are in
fulfilling our responsibility to be our brother’s keeper. Living up to the
one responsibility we have that includes all others: to love one another as
Christ loved us - Jn 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you
love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love
for one another."’ If we have failed to be our brother’s keeper, we need to
repent of our lack of concern, our inactivity, or whatever has hindered us.
We need to confess our shortcomings in this area to God. We need to resolve
to apply with zeal these “one another” passages! Are you your brother’s
keeper? Are you even identified with a congregation whereby you can be a
working member who both cares for those in the family, and be cared for by
them? I hope this study has stimulated your thinking about responsibilities
you have toward your brethren in Christ...
As continuation of this subject in order to help in our continuing to grow
in Christ and be pleasing to our Lord, we will be looking at some Old
Testament text and characters that provide examples worthy of emulating or
incorporating into our lives. This first lesson is close to my heart, in
that I have experienced the destruction of a congregation that ignored the
principles taught here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Am I My Brother’s Keeper?
Genesis 4:9
Perhaps one of the more thought-provoking questions in the Bible is that one
asked by Cain.... Cain had killed his brother because God had accepted
Abel’s offering, but not his own – Gen 4:3-8. When the Lord inquired
concerning Abel, Cain’s response was:
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen 4:9). This is a question we would do well
to ask ourselves today.... Are we our brothers’ keeper? Do we have a
responsibility to watch out for and care for one another? When one turns to
the New Testament, it becomes clear that the answer is in the affirmative.
In fact, there are many passages which emphasize our responsibilities to one
another. We are to “love one another” As commanded by Jesus - Jn 13:34-35 “A
new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have
loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know
that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."’; 15:12,17 ‘
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” –
“These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” As taught
by Paul - Ro 13:8 “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the
one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”; 1 Th 4:9 “Now concerning
brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you
yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,”. As instructed by
Peter - 1 Pe 1:22 “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth
for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,”
As stressed by John - 1 Jn 3:11 “For this is the message that you have
heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (note v.12 “We
should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother.
And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's
righteous.”), 23 “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name
of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.”;
4:7,11-12 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and
whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” – “Beloved, if God so
loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we
love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”; 2 Jn 5
“And now I ask you, dear lady--not as though I were writing you a new
commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning--that we love one
another.”
But how are we to express such love? Other passages can provide the answer
as to how we are to show our love for one another. We are to “receive one
another” - Ro 15:7 “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you
for the glory of God.” We are to “edify another” - Ro 14:19 “So then let us
follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify
one another.” We are to “serve one another” - Ga 5:13 “For you were called
to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the
flesh, but through love serve one another.” We are to “bear one another’s
burdens” - Ga 6:1-2 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you
who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch
on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so
fulfill the law of Christ.” We are to be “forgiving one another” - Ep 4:32
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in
Christ forgave you.” We are to be “submitting to one another” - Ep 5:21
“submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” We are to “exhort
one another” - He 3:12-13 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you
an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today,"
that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” We are to
“consider one another” - He 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one
another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the
habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the
Day drawing near.” We are to be “hospitable to one another” - 1 Pe 4:8-10
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude
of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has
received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's
varied grace:” In light of such “one another” passages, is there any doubt
that we are to be our brother’s keeper? But how well are we doing?
To stimulate our thinking and help us reexamine how well we are fulfilling
our obligations to one another, consider the following questions as we
evaluate our role as our brothers’s keeper. When one becomes a brother do we
receive them into the family of God, or ignore them? - Ro 15:7 “Therefore
welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Are
they properly assimilated in the family life of the congregation? Do they
remain on the fringe? -- If we do not even know their names, we can be sure
that we are failing as our brother’s keeper! Do we edify them, or put
stumbling blocks in their way? - Ro 14:19 “So then let us pursue what makes
for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” As individuals, are we “bodybuilders”,
encouraging the members of the body? Or are we like a cancer, weakening the
members of the body of Christ? By our own example; by our words, attitudes,
etc. -- It was said of Philemon that he refreshed the hearts of the brethren
do people say the same of us? Do we submit to them, or arrogantly rule over
them? - Ep 5:21 “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Do
we serve them in love, or expect them to serve us? - Ga 5:13 “For you were
called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity
for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Do we demonstrate
hospitality to them? - 1 Pe 4:8-10 “Above all, keep loving one another
earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one
another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one
another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:” By visiting them in their
need? By inviting them into your home (or accepting invitations to their
home)?
When a brother is overtaken in a fault do we even consider them? - He
10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good
works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Are we even aware of who they are? Are we ignorant of their problems? If so,
why? Maybe it is because we don’t assemble enough ourselves. We may “wonder
about them”, but that is not sufficient! Do they drift away, with no one
making an effort to reach them? Do we exhort them, lest they become hardened
by sin? - He 3:12-14 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an
evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But
exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of
you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if
indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” Or are we afraid to
confront them, for fear of running them away? If we truly love them and
approach them with humility, they are not likely to run away. If they do,
they are running away from God, not you! Remember, such exhortation is to be
daily! Perhaps we wait too long.... Are we willing bear their burdens? - Ga
6:1-2 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are
spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on
yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so
fulfill the law of Christ.” So as to help them overcome and become stronger.
Or do we rather not be bothered? Are we quick to forgive them when they
repent? - Ep 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Fear of not being forgiven and
accepted back into the family may keep some from repenting and returning to
the fold. Do we communicate a willingness to accept with open arms and offer
complete forgiveness?
How we answer such questions may reveal how well or poorly we are in
fulfilling our responsibility to be our brother’s keeper. Living up to the
one responsibility we have that includes all others: to love one another as
Christ loved us - Jn 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you
love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love
for one another."’ If we have failed to be our brother’s keeper, we need to
repent of our lack of concern, our inactivity, or whatever has hindered us.
We need to confess our shortcomings in this area to God. We need to resolve
to apply with zeal these “one another” passages! Are you your brother’s
keeper? Are you even identified with a congregation whereby you can be a
working member who both cares for those in the family, and be cared for by
them? I hope this study has stimulated your thinking about responsibilities
you have toward your brethren in Christ...
