Am I My Brother’s Keeper
By Thomas E. Kittrell
April 26, 2006
Cain and Abel, were the first two brothers
Cain was a farmer and loved the soil
Abel was an animal lover and kept sheep
Both offered to God the fruit of their toil
God smiled upon that presented by Abel
Cain did not please God with his treasure
Emotions of jealousy and envy were born
The older brother ruled by his displeasure
Two siblings talking in the field that day
Satan had filled Cain’s heart with strife
He would rise up against his only brother
Controlled by rage he would take his life
Returning to his crops he tried to forget
Life would go on as usual for sure
Never again would he feel inferior
No more humiliation he would endure
“Where is your brother?” God was asking
The question penetrated his heart like a spear
He must somehow avoid a direct answer
He felt so uncomfortable with God so near
“I do not know,” he lied, as uneasiness set in
Not sure of how much God already knew
If only he had somehow kept his cool
Before his brother in anger he slew
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” feebly he asked
After all there was no evidence to be found
“What have you done?” came the accusation
“Your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground”
Today people are still asking that same question
Their responsibility for others they want to deny
There is no excuse acceptable before the Maker
Still He hears the voice of the helpless as they cry
Am I My Brother's Keeper? -- Yes, I am.
Galatians 6:2 "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (KJV).
We never know how our input in someone else's life will change the course of their direction. What happens to my brother affects me in the long run.
Even though the words were not actually said, on a communion Sunday at church a few years ago I heard these words from my pastor, "the night in which we betrayed Him", instead of "the night in which He was betrayed" ... We are all Cain's in a way as we are all guilty of bringing death to our Brother, Jesus. I have no doubt that had we been in the crowd before Pilate we would have denied having known Him, as Peter did, and would have joined in the chant, "crucify Him!". Thanks be to God that in our death sentence our blood can call out to Him as Abel's did and through the sacrifice of our crucified Lord He is gracious to save! Thank you for these words, Thomas - they gave me reason to ponder and pray :)
