AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?
TEXT : Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” ( Genesis 4:9)
The timeless inquiry, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” still resonates with both gravity and profound pertinence. This question, born from the tragic tale of Cain and Abel, encapsulates the call to care for our fellow human beings and to embrace a spirit of love and compassion.
The story goes that Cain, a farmer, and his brother Abel, a shepherd, each presented offerings to God. Abel’s offering was a sheep, while Cain’s was produce from his farm. However, God did not accept Cain’s offering. Perhaps stung by rejection, Cain was overcome with anger and jealousy. In a moment of blind rage, he took his brother’s life. When God questioned him, Cain feigned ignorance and even asked God if he was responsible for looking after Abel. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain inquired, as if to say, “Am I to be held responsible for the wellbeing of this man whom I have slain?” Cain’s question was an attempt to shirk responsibility, to fling the question back at God, and evade accountability for the crime he had just committted. However, this query continues to resonate today, reminding us of our shared responsibility to one another. Should we care about the plight of our fellow human beings? The answer is a resounding “ yes .”
In the Old Testament, we observe God’s provision for the disadvantaged, including the poor and immigrants within the Israelite community (Leviticus 23:22). The New Testament reinforces this ethos, proclaiming that caring for those most in need, specifically orphans and widows, epitomizes the very essence of true religion (James 1:27).
Being a brother’s keeper is a mandate , not just a moral inquiry , a call to action a call to embrace our roles as caretakers, nurturers, protectors of our fellow human beings , reaching out to those in need, whether they be neighbors, friends, or strangers, and offering assistance in what way we can. It requires a mindset shift from the individualistic “I” to the communal “we” wherein the well-being and welfare of others become as important as our own. This embodies the essence of Christ’s teachings and the heart of the gospel.
Just as Jesus embraced the marginalized, healed the sick, and touched the lives of the needy, so too are we called to emulate his example. To be a Christian is to be a brother’s keeper, extending the love of Christ to all people, living out the commandment to ” love your neighbor as yourself “
When we care for others, it changes us and them. It changes our community and our country. Our world is filled with hurt, brokeness, and division. How do you answer this timely question?
SEARCHLIGHT: In a world where you can be anything, be kind. In a world where you can choose anything, choose love. In a world where you can do anything, be your brother’s keeper.
PRAYER : Dear Lord, fill my heart with love for my brethren, and imbue me with the spirit of being my brother’s keeper.
BIBLE READING: Isaiah 41-43 & Rev 11.
PST. MICHAEL OMOLE
