“Am I My Brother’s Keeper?” – Part 1

Bible Text: Genesis 4:9-13

9 Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” "I don't know, Cain responded. Am I my brother's keeper?"

10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!

11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. 

12 No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”

13 Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear!

INTRODUCTION:

God asked Cain a very simple question, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” and Cain, knowing the answer already, gave a rather flippant response, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” Not surprising since Cain had just committed the first murder in world history and the victim happened to be his own flesh-and-blood, Abel, his brother. So, Cain chose to give God an ‘attitude’ when put on the spot. He rudely replies, “How do you expect me to know where he is? Am I my brother’s keeper? Am I supposed to follow him around every minute and know where he is? He’s not MY responsibility!” Now, to me, that is callous!!!

“Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

What is the definition of ‘keeper’? Does it mean that we should be responsible for another person? Does it mean, like Cain imagined, “following him around all day and trying to keep track of what he does?” What does the word ‘keeper’ mean to you? And who is our ‘brother’? A sibling or family member or a Christian brother or anyone as used in the sense of neighbor in the story of the Good Samaritan? Are we commanded in the Scripture to be our brother’s keeper?

The idea of a keeper is one who guards, watches over, protects, and oversees another person or thing. We see a bigger sibling watching over the little ones while they play; guards and protects them from harm – falling, fighting, rough play, etc; and ensures that everyone gets home safely. Being a keeper does not mean minding other people’s business or helping people to cover up their wrongdoing in order to keep them out of trouble. It is also not about doing for people what they should do for themselves like making their own decisions.

Cain’s attitude was arrogant, selfish, and insensitive toward his brother. He didn’t want to be bothered by anyone over his brother’s whereabouts. But Apostle Paul says in Philippians 2:4, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

To be continued next week…