Genesis 4:9 KJV
And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said , I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper ?
We are living in a time where you hear the phrases very often…”I do not want to get involved” or “I just want to stay out of it”. However, when life strikes you down or tradgey strikes, we want the world to get involved and by way of telephone, we put the world right in the middle of it.
I remember a time when people knew everyone on their block. They knew their names, their children and what school they attended. In the middle of the night if a neighbor became ill or an emergency occurred they could and would call or come knocking and knew within an instant the neighbor would come to their aid.
Now, neighbors caught looking too hard would be met with hostile glares or garage doors closing quickly to keep your nosy eyes from prying.
Am I my brother’s keeper?
In today’s economy, layoffs, high gas prices, housing slump, family problems, alcohol, drugs and death…am I my brother’s keeper?
Our society has gone so far to the left…right…that when there is financial trouble in the home, not even the church is willing to assist. “That’s your problem.” “You put yourself in that situation.” “We don’t have money for that”. Hard times have placed many in the position of asking for financial assistance. But, asking for assistance should not be met with shame and guilt.
Am I my brother’s keeper?
If we know that a brother (not blood relation) has been laid off, why should I not ask around to see if anyone is hiring? If I knew that a brother was about to be late the 1st month of his rent why can I not help my brother to find resources to help him/her catch up? Why should my brother be so ashamed and embarrased to share? Because just as Cain did, we kill our brother behind closed doors trying to over speculate the reason for their calamity. Then we, as judge and jury, debate in the jury room of our homes (bedroom), if we should get involved. Never mind that the family has small children. Never mind that we should keep the brothers needs first and not judge his/her character during the crisis. We do know that when anyone is in crisis that is not the time to judge their character for we all have a side to us that is not typically who we really are. If you did not have grocery for your children, you too would be stressed.
No washing powder, clean clothes, bus fare or a job…let’s see how you hang.
Am I my brother’s keeper?
