Subject: "Am I My Brother’s Keeper?"
Scripture Text, Genesis 4:1-9
’And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And she again bare his brother Abel, And Abel was a keeper of the sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be acceptede? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door, And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: And it came to pass, when they were in the field, That Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?"
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Introduction:
Shortly after God made man He realized that it would be much better for him to have someone to share with and some one to talk to. God placed something within us that causes us to reach out and have fellowship with one another. The old saying: "No man is an island" is very true. We need each other! So God created us as "SOCIAL BEINGS." Genesis 2:18 " And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
Before long, Adam and Eve had children and what began as husband and wife soon became a FAMILY of little Adams and little Eves. Now the fellowship that began with husband and wife was extended unto their children as well. God instituted the FAMILY as the basic social unit. We are to love each other, and help each other and give of ourselves to each other. We may be many within a family unit but God desires for us to behave as "ONE" ---- Bound together in love and harmony. However, it was not long until Satan and sin entered into the picture of life. It began in the Garden of Eden and continued in Adam and Eve’s family.SELF CENTEREDNESS that began in the heart and mind of Eve --- stayed around and it revealed itself once again in the first home and the first family, as the eldest son,Cain, killed his brother Abel, because of envy and jealousy.
It may have started in Adam and Eve’s family but it did not end there. Oh no, today in the day when INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS is demanded, we see more and more division and disruption and turmoil within the family structure. Matthew 24: 10-12 ’And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Within these days prior to the coming of Christ Jesus we shall see more and more unconcern for others.
While this society of self centered men and women are demanding how they are to be treated, the Bible emphasizes our duties as Christians to first God and then to one another. The Bible seldom mentions our individual rights because rebellious sinners deserve no rights except the right to be punished for the sins we have committed. Our success as a family, church or nation depends largely upon whether we allow the law of self-centeredness or the law of love to prevail within us. Selfishness destroys all sorts of relationships; only in places where the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts can we truly discover true joy and happiness.
Adam must have taught his children the need to offer up animal sacrifices for their sins. Genesis 3:21 ’Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins and clothed them.’However, Cain decided to offer a bloodless sacrifice unto God. As we take a glimpse of Cain he reminds us of many of today’s worshippers --- those who willingly worship God so long as they can do it their way and it will not cost them anything. They do not like the sound of the word "SACRIFICE." However, Abel obediently offerd a blood offering unto the LORD and God was pleased with it and accepted it. Cain was full of selfish envy and strife and hatred rose up within him. He envied his brother because he had the divine annointed favor of God upon him.
WHERE IS THY BROTHER?
Nothing is ever hid from the all seeing eyes of God. God knew exactly what had taken place in the field. He asked this question to Cain so that he might confess his sin. Confession is always necessary if we are to expect God’s forgiveness. (I John 1:9) ’If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Rather than broken hearted confession, Cain arrogantly replies, "I know not ..." Neither did he show concern and offer to find out where his brother was. He only had one brother to keep up with. However, Cain sadly knew exactly where his brother was.
Today, the Holy Spirit is asking us as individuals and as local churches that very same question. "Where is thy brother?" Many who only attend church on Sunday mornings will not be able to give the answer to that question.If we do not attend the mid week prayer services we are unlikely to know where our brothers and sisters are. They may be struggling with a heavy burden or facing a crisis in their lives but we make no effort to find out why they have ben missing church. Are we afraid that if we do discover they are facing a hard time in their lives,it will cost us some time, some finances, or something else from us that we selfishly rather hang on to than sharing it to help others in time of need.
It may seem strange that Cain expected to decieve God. However, his own conscience had been hardened by his sin and he lied with a straight face and he expected fully to escape detection from God. We should not be too surprised to see a person who has just committed a terrible crime appear absolutely calm and innocent. Sin will harden the conscience and make one think and behave in a way that is totally different from their usual behaviour. Look at the reaction of David after he sinned with Bathsheba. Years earlier he refused to take the life of King Saul even though Saul was hunting him. After his sin with Bathseba he did whatever it took to see to it that her husband was killed. Cain had actually killed himself --- his conscience and his relationship with God and with his fellow man, when he murdered his brother.
AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?
Cain did not only lie to God but he actually challenges God by asking "Am I my brother’s keeper?"
i.e. "Why can’t he take care of himself? Why should I have to follow him every step he takes?" No doubt Adam had taught Cain to watch after his younger brother. Instinctively, his natural affection would make him concerned for him. Furthermore, he had seen the need of human interdependance ( e.g. advice from his father, help and meat from Abel).
As Christians, we have an even greater reason to be our brother’s keeper because we have tasted God’s unconditional love for us. "Freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8) Furthermore,we are commanded to prove our love to God by the way we show our love to His children. (I John 4:20) ’If a man say, I love God, and hateh his brother, he is a liar, for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"
"Whosoever shall give a cup of water.....shall not lose his reward." (Mark 9:41) The way we reach out and help one another, and the way we minister to others who are in need, is the way we show our love for God. When we see people in need we have just seen an opportunity to do something for God. Don’t pass that golden opportunity by. You may not be able to meet their entire need, but God knows what you are able to do and what you are not able to do. But to do NOTHING is not acceptable unto God!
A "brother" is anyone who has some relationship to us, e.g. family member, fellow citizen, spiritual brother, neighbor, work companion, friend. The closer the relationship is, the greater the responsibility is to help. We all have different abilities. Some may be able to give more financially than others but we can all do somthing. We can pray and we can often give a helping hand. Sisters, you could bake a cake or cook an entire meal and carry it to a family having sickness in their home. You could clean their house or offee to make errands for them about town, e.g. grocery shopping, paying utility bills, picking up their medicine. Brothers, you could mow someone’s yard, or you could fix a widow lady’s house that needs repairs. We can all do somthing.
Our brothers and our sister are all about us and yes we are responsible to be a blessing to them and to love them. And in closing, let me say this. Let us not love in word only but also in deed. That’s where the rubber meets the road. - May God Bless You-
