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
"Am I my brother's keeper?" This question has echoed through the ages and is one that come to us today. "Am I my brother's (or sister's) keeper?" Am I?
When we consider the question literally, most of us understand that we are responsible to care for our family members. Our society looks down on those who are so self-centered that they do not care for their family.
But understanding "brother" as "fellow human" one equally created by God, then we are less certain. Now we are talking about our neighbor aren't we? Am I responsible for my neighbor?
The Old Testament law calls for the care of others, especially the needy. Farmers, for example were not to harvest the very edge of their fields, but leave the fringe for needy people to take. Also, when harvesting, the farmer was not to go back over his field to pick up missed or dropped produce, so that the poor could pick them up, something Ruth did (Ruth 2). Then Jesus comes as King of the Kingdom and he cares for those in need. When the crowds followed him far out of town, Jesus enlisted his disciples to feed them, Jn 6. The movement of Jesus' life: from heaven to earth to the cross and the grave and back to life and heaven, all this shows Jesus is his "brother's keeper".
It is the culture of the Kingdom of God to be our brother's keeper. Yet, it is the culture of America to be responsible for ourselves and expect our "brother" to be responsible for himself. Jesus recognizes something American culture does not, there are many circumstances and experiences in life that we are incapable of dealing with on our own. The most obvious is sin. We cannot get rid of sin nor pay the penalty for our sin. So, in grace, God sent Jesus to do for us what we cannot for ourselves. Cycles of broken families are not overcome merely by the will of one person alone. Alcoholics generally are the children of alcoholics and the grandchildren of alcoholics. Broken marriages tend to perpetuate broken marriages; this grim cycle is spoken of in Ex 34:7; and Ps 109:14. But, with the help of a loving community to guide and empower and the grace of God through them, the person who grew up in such broken circumstances can grow to live better. By herself, she may never know a better way.
So, Jesus came and lived as a "brother-keeper". He died to break the power of sin and set us free. And Jesus enlists us as his friends to be our "brother's keeper". We live in a broken world full of wounded people. There is no solution apart from Jesus' work of salvation. But, we are salt and light, making for a more healthy society. And a healthy society is better for all; it is better for us to proclaim, "Jesus Saves". This is good news and common grace to all people.
Where do you see the needy in our community? Are the needs physical, spiritual, psychological, relational and/or emotional? Ask yourself, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Ask God, "What would you have me do?" Consider, meditate and consult.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor MacDonald