It’s important to know God. It’s important to be in fellowship with each other. When Christians quit helping each other and lifting each other up, the Christian family begins to fall apart. We are threatened in many ways. The devil wants to destroy us all. I need to look out for myself, but I need to look out for you too. I’m glad to have you all to lean on.
Genesis 4: 9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
Cain lied to God. He killed his brother in anger and envy. We need to do our best to be controlled by the Holy Spirit or we can hurt someone for a lifetime. Do you think Cain downsized God? Do you think he thought God didn’t know where Abel was? Was Cain in denial? We accuse God. When things get out of control we sometimes turn on God. We say things like why should I keep reading my Bible? Why should I keep going to church? Just because life is not a bed of roses doesn’t mean God has broken his promises.
God wasn’t in trouble. He didn’t have to prove a thing. He had already told Cain he could do the right thing and turn this around. God said why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? If Cain had brought the right offering to the Lord, it would have been accepted. We can get in a mess and believe ourselves over God. When we get away from him, it’s easy to be confused. Cain chose the words am I my brother’s keeper. Why? He went on the defensive. We want God to be God when things are going well, but if they are not we don’t want that. Had our parents done all we wanted what kind of parents would that have made them?
God asked Cain a question and he turned around and asked one himself. This is what Cain was saying—Am I to be a shepherd over my brother like he was over those sheep? Remember that Cain was a farmer. Abel was a shepherd. There are easy and hard parts to both. In effect Cain asked am I supposed to watch over him like a dumb sheep? The answer is yes. That’s why God asked. We are supposed to look out for one another. We are supposed to tend to each other. We are to bear one another’s burdens. It’s a dog eat dog world. Our generation has seen a global shift from neighborliness, but we can still look out for each other.
Am I my brother’s keeper? Cain hit the nail on the head. We are to take care of our brother. We need each other’s help. Be willing to take it. Be willing to give it. If we refuse an offer of help we rob someone of the blessing that comes in helping. How are we to be our brother’s keeper? Let’s read Romans 12:9-21. This is how.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 