When Will We Become Our Brother’s Keeper?

God asked Cain “Where is your brother?” to which Cain replied “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Genesis 2:15

Even the first family had sibling rivalry, so intense that it ended in murder. How did they change from loving brothers to hating relatives? Although to be perfectly accurate, only one brother was envious.

What caused this rivalry?

• Half-hearted commitment
• Selfishness = Me, Myself, and I
• Resentment at being rejected
• Envy of another’s favor
• Unwillingness to change

Cain was not committed to pleasing God and did not give his best. In today’s world, we are often spread so thin that we are only half-heartedly committed even to those things we care the most about. Less time is spent with our families because of the chase to achieve wealth and fame. Our wives and husbands are neglected leaving them open to temptation. Everyone is raising our children, except us. And sometimes we don’t even give our all to our jobs because it isn’t what really fulfills us. We don’t even give our all to our own selves to improve our mental and physical health. Without a commitment, we don’t give our best.

Cain lost sight of what his commitment was, which made him concerned only with himself. When we begin to lose our commitment to the world, we begin to become self-centered. We give our leftovers: we throw money at charities, instead of giving our time to make a real difference; we substitute activities rather than communication with our families; and we occupy space at our jobs.

Cain’s offerings to God were rejected because God knew his heart wasn’t in it. Once we become centered inward, we become resentful when our half-hearted efforts are rejected by others. Each rejection takes us down a darker path.

Cain not only felt rejected, but began to compare himself with his brother who had garnered favor. Instead of following Abel’s example to please God, he became envious of his favor with God. Everyone, who is honest, has had moments when we envied the fact that someone else got the promotion we wanted, or everyone, except you, was getting married, or your neighbor bought that new car that you so want but can’t afford. It can take us to a dark place. This is the time when we need to change our focus outward.

Maybe we don’t have everything we want, but do we have everything we need? Would you have more peace in the bigger house if you have to work longer hours, away from your family, so that you get to a place where no one knows anyone else anymore? Where is the love without the togetherness? Where is the “family”? Where are your friends, if you don’t have time to socialize with them? How can you “do life together” if you don’t even know what their problems are?

“Love your neighbor as yourself”

Matthew 22:39

I challenge you to get to know your neighbors, and not just your immediate neighbors, your world neighbors. But the biggest challenge is to love them like you love yourself. And here lies the rub: how well do you love yourself?