Bad Kids Of The Bible: Cain Series

Now I know that Cain didn’t have the book of James or the book of Ephesians to guide him in conquering his anger, but he did have the counsel of God. God warned Cain, “[6] Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? [7] If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” God was telling Cain that he needed to control his anger, or it would control him. Sadly, instead of listening to God, Cain decided to nurse a grudge.

I have know people that wouldn’t speak to each other for years because of something silly. A friend of mine hadn’t spoken to another friend of mine for years. I asked him why he was so angry, and he said, “It was so long ago, I don’t remember.” Other people don’t speak to each other because of something more serious. When I was in the third grade, my great-grandparents passed away. They lived in Michigan. I remember going there in the summer of 1976 for the funeral. After the funeral was over, we went to my great-grandparents house and found a huge argument going on in the living room. My grandfather asked what was going on, and quickly found out that his brothers and sisters were fighting over their parent’s belongings. My grandfather scolded them for their behavior, and they shared a few choice words with him. My grandfather took us back to our hotel, and we left the next day. He never spoke to them again.

If you are angry and holding a grudge, you need to deal with it now. Don’t let it fester into something that will destroy you and the people that you love. If Cain would have listened to God’s advice, things would have probably turned out much different. Cain is an example of how we should NOT deal with the anger in our lives.

Finally, Cain’s story teaches us that God expects us to watch over and care for one another. Cain’s infamous reply to God was, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” was his way of telling God to leave him alone and stay out of his business. However, throughout God’s Word we are told to BE our brother’s keeper. We are told to encourage and support one another at all times. The author of Hebrews tells us that that is one of the main reasons we should go to church. “[23] Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) [24] And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23 – 25) He goes on to say that we have the responsibility of helping one another overcome sin and temptation. “[13] But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13). The apostle Paul says the same thing in Galatians 6:1, 2, “[1] 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. [2] Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”