Being Your Brother's Keeper: When Love Requires Sacrifice
Genesis 4:9-10
“Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. ”
Yes! You are your brother's keeper.
Even though Cain asked this sarcastic question to try and get out of his responsibility, the Bible makes it clear that each of us has a duty to our brothers' well-being. Every one of us is called to care for, protect, and love one another. Cain obviously did not believe in this and showed no love for God. How can we say we love the Creator but hate His creation?
Today, being your brother's keeper looks a little different. What we learn from this is applied to how we handle relationships and even our community. It means not being the "not my problem" guy. Helping, standing up for, or protecting someone, even if it means lovingly confronting them, is the kind of love God shows us.
Learn about your brothers. Learn about their struggles and do what you can to help them through them. Even if that means adjusting your choices so you don't cause them to stumble. This is the self-sacrificing love Jesus modeled for us. Remember what He said in Matthew 25?
How a person treats their brother, the poor, the stranger, and the sick is a direct reflection of how they treat Him.
Dang.
Here is the tough part: to actually be your brother's keeper, it has to be sacrificial.
The world tells us, "It's my life. I can do what I want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone." The Lord calls His followers to a much higher standard!
It means giving up your plans, your rest, the game, and even your rights if your choices are negatively affecting someone. It doesn't mean you have to change your entire life, although caring and loving this deeply probably will. You are expected to be mindful and careful around those who are struggling. Don't drink beer in front of a recovering alcoholic.
It's simple, really.
What makes it complicated is our willingness to let these "rights" go for the benefit of our brothers. I'm convinced that is where almost all of the difficulties come from in our lives following the Lord. We hold on to the weights that slow us down instead of letting go and trusting God completely.
Being your brother's keeper means choosing love over convenience, even when it costs you something.
Are you your brother's keeper?
Thank you, Father, for one more day. Amen
Romans 14:10-13
“So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.”
