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Brother's Keeper


Am I my brother's keeper?
Genesis 4:9

Our Heavenly Father is One. Thus we are all brothers in Christ. We have a choice to select our friends. However concerning brothers, there is no alternatives but to accept and love one another in the family of God.

There are basically three types of brothers:

  • Friendly brothers
  • Friendless brothers
  • Unfriendly brothers

Friendly brothers are those who are like a warm fireplace in a cold winter night that people would love to gather around. Friendless brothers are those who are like a closed castle inaccessible by anyone. Unfriendly brothers are those who have porcupine spikes that will poke and hurt anyone who dare to go near.

No man is an island. The sad truth is that there are more loners in our midst now than ever before. The new technological communication equipment and gadgets have not improved the level of friendliness and closeness. Bottom lines, deadlines, information, data and work flood our telecommunication lines and networks. People are drifting away from each other. The only link is work-related.

Even Christians struggle in relating to other Christians. Many would like to have some friends. Nevertheless they remain relatively friendless after some failed efforts.

Many do not have anyone:

  • To talk to, heart to heart
  • To stand by them in times of failures
  • To share their joy or sorrow
  • To watch over them
  • To give some advice or counsel
  • To face life struggles together
  • To be their confidante

Being a brother’s keeper is never an easy job. Human beings are sometimes more fragile than glass. Some are burning with anger; some have no integrity; some are not truthful; some are not lovable and approachable; some are cold as ice. Despite all these shortcomings, every man needs a brother’s keeper.

The Bible exhorts us to: Verse
Love one another. John 13:34-35
Show respect to one another. Romans 12:10
Live in harmony with one another. Romans 12:16
Don’t judge one another. Romans 14:13
Strengthen one another. Romans 14:19
Accept one another. Romans 15:7
Have the same concern for one another. 1 Cor. 12:25
Serve one another. Galatians 5:13
Don’t irritate one another. Galatians 5:26
Carry one another’s burdens. Galatians 6:2
Be compassionate for one another. Ephesians 4:32
Forgive one another. Ephesians 4:32
Submit to one another. Ephesians 5:21
Esteem one another. Philippians 2:3
Teach and admonish one another. Colossians 3:16
Encourage one another. 1 Thes 5:11
Be kind to one another. 1 Thes 5:15
Don’t slander one another. James 4:11
Confess your sins to one another. James 5:16
Pray for one another. James 5:16
Be hospitable to one another. 1 Peter 4:9

I believe God is raising the standard of brotherhood today. A standard that will turn the other cheek, give the cloak and walk the second mile (Matthew 5:39-41). As the times get harder, we need to love one another even more.

Behind our eyes, we are all the same. Made of flesh and blood, needing the fellowship and friendship of another human being.