What Does The Bible Say About Being My Brother’s Keeper?
What does God expect of us in regards to each other? Does He make us responsible for the actions of ourselves and others? Are we really supposed to be our brother’s (or sister’s) keeper? What does it even mean to keep your brother? Keep him from what?!?
Those were questions I had. I suspect they are questions that have crossed your mind too, which is good. If God is calling us to do something, and we aren’t doing it, there will come a day when we will be held accountable for our lack of knowledge and action.
God never ever wants us to be ignorant of His desires for us. So let us look at the topic of being your brother’s keeper.
Am I My Brothers Keeper?
Being your brother’s keeper is critical for Christians. However, the term brother’s keeper is only found once in the Bible. Are you as surprised as I was by that fact? Even more surprising (for me) was that God repeatedly used the lives of the Old Testament saints to show us the concept of being our brother’s keeper. Then, He unpacks it even further in the New Testament.
The concept of being a brother’s keeper can be found in the 100+ verses in the New Testament stressing the importance of how we are to treat (and respond to) other Christians. They are frequently called the one another verses. Have you heard of or studied them? Did you realize they were directly tied to the Old Testament and not a new idea revealed by Jesus? I didn’t.
Who Is My Brother
Let’s start by defining who a brother is and what it means to be his keeper. The only way we can grow in proper understanding is to use the Bible to get on the same page.
BROTHER: Hebrew #251; a relative, kinship, someone from the same tribe or group.
A Brother Is A Spiritual Relative
When we repent of our sins, acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of our life, and turn from our wicked ways, we are grafted into the spiritual family of God. Instantly, Jehovah becomes our Father. Others who have also given their life to Jesus become our brothers and sisters in Christ.
A Brother Is Spiritual Kinsman:
KIN: A connected relationship between individuals who share ties to the same group.
A Christian brother is part of the group we (all born-again Christians) belong to. This group is called Christianity (or followers of Christ Jesus). Before being born again, you and your brother may have had little to nothing in common. After being born again, Jesus is our common ground on which we are to build relationships.
Another example would be military personnel who form tight bonds of kinship and consider each other family. This type of bond goes beyond years or locations.
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. ”
“Jesus said, For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. ”
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”
Is Everyone My Brother?
Your brother isn’t every human being in the world. I wish that it were so. Regardless, God loves everyone and so should we. Our time on earth is short, but we should still find ways to show those not in our family the love of Jesus through our actions and speech. We should never forget that the unsaved were created by God for a purpose just as we were. He still loves them deeply despite their lack of love for Him. They have just not made the decision to be a part of His family yet.
So although Father God loves them, not everyone is part of our Christian family. So although that is true, it is also true that we are to pay particular attention to other believers by being a genuine blessing in their lives.
Again, think in terms of the military. Simply by seeing someone's walk, talk, and demeanor, a current or former military personnel can usually pick out who is (or was) also serving. Although you all serve in the American Armed Forces, some of you were Army, some Air Force, etc. And although you are respectful to everyone, you show additional consideration towards those serving alongside you (Army, Air Force, etc.). But when it comes down to it, you recognize that you were made brothers when you each made the decision to serve the United States in your chosen branch of the military.
“So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).”
What Does It Mean To Be A Keeper?
KEEPER: Hebrew #8104; To keep guard, to watch and protect, to observe, to keep within bounds. Surprisingly, both the secular and Christian definitions for a keeper are similar. Often, that is not the case.
Being your brother’s keeper isn’t easy to explain. It is a concept as much as a title. But let me try:
It means that you are conscious that your actions might cause your brother (or sister) to stumble so you adjust them accordingly.
It means that when you notice your brother doing things that are not godly, you have enough of a relationship with him that you can have a hard conversation, pray with him, and help guide him back from the edge of sin.
It means needs are made known, prayed for, and met.
It means emotional and spiritual support is readily given.
It is iron sharpening iron.
It means you build relationships by making time for him, sharing meals, and getting to know each other’s families.
It means doing life together even when it’s not convenient and thinking more about them than you do about yourself.
Where Is This Found In The Bible?
Are you thinking this sounds all fine and good, but where is it found in the Bible?
The term brother’s keeper is only found in Genesis 4:9 after Cain killed his brother. When God confronted Cain about it, Cain belligerently asked God a famous question that seemed to come out of left-field. So what was going on here? Why would Cain ask such a question?
God asking Cain about the whereabouts of Abel should have been a wake-up call to Cain. God knew, and it was time to own up to his actions. But sin blinds us to God’s love and truth.
Earlier in Genesis, we learn that God had appointed Adam as a keeper of all living things. This keeper mentality would have been a way of life that his children would have grown up seeing in action and taught as the proper behavior for a man of God. It would have been normal and expected.
Yet, here is Adam’s firstborn, who turned away from what he was taught. Cain took his brother’s life and then resents being held accountable for that brother’s whereabouts. He wasn’t acting with love for anyone except himself and his desires.
What Does This Have To Do With Me Now?
In the book of 1 John, we see how the Holy Spirit has tied being your brother’s keeper (Old Testament) with the one another verses (New Testament).
“For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brothers were righteous.”
So from the very beginning of the Bible (Genesis 4:1-13) to the very end, God’s message has not changed. We are to be our brother’s keeper demonstrated by our actions. But not as Cain treated his brother. He didn’t love Abel more than himself. He didn’t look out for or protect Abel. He didn’t appear to be the least bit concerned if his younger brother stayed within the bounds of God's desires. No, Cain wasn’t much of a brother’s keeper.
Cain knew the Lord God Almighty. We know he did because he spoke with God in chapter 4. Nowhere does it indicate that Cain was shocked that God spoke with him. It actually appears to be a normal part of his life.
We have the same opportunity that Cain had. As Christians, we know our Lord God Almighty. He speaks with us and walks with us. It is a normal part of our lives. Daily we are given the same chance to bless or curse those we interact with. And just like Cain, we will be held accountable for our role as our brother’s keeper.
Conclusion
If ever there was a blog post I struggled to write, it has been this one. Being our brother’s and sister’s keeper is a subject that is near and dear to my heart and has been for quite some time. The truth is, I can't read my Bible without seeing example after example of this concept spoken of or played out. It feels like the Holy Spirit shines his light directly on those passages for me to clearly see.
It doesn’t matter that the term brother’s keeper is only mentioned once in the Bible. Using verses such as the one listed below, the concept of loving, serving, and looking out for one another’s needs is mentioned cover to cover. Today, we might call this discipleship, mentorship, or sisterly (brotherly) love. Whatever you choose to call it, being your brother’s keeper and allowing them to be yours is at the very heart of our Lord God!
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
ADDITIONAL FAITH-FILLED POSTS TO FILL YOUR SPIRITUAL CUP TO OVERFLOWING:
