CrossTies Devotional Articles

July 1, 2009



Introduction

Team sports are excellent at teaching the importance of every team member.
In football, especially, is there a responsibility to "protect" one another.
Some positions exist for the express purpose of protecting other players,
but it's a universal responsibility. The church has the same kind of
responsibility to its members. We are taught to love one another, to watch
out for each other's interests, and help one another. Sometimes, it can
seem that we're in this thing called life all on our own. We need to make
sure that every brother or sister in Christ knows they are on a team, and
that someone is making every effort to "keep" them.



Your Brother's Keeper
By Bill Denton

Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do
not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" - Genesis 4:9 , NASB95

Since most quarterbacks are right-handed, the left tackle's main role is to
prevent his quarterback from being hit from behind, unseen. And with the
next generation of athletic linebackers and defensive ends, it takes a
special person to do it. Left tackles must weigh more than 300 pounds and
have long arms to block, but they must also be quick on their feet. Today,
teams are willing to pay for such a player. By 2004, the average salary of a
left tackle in the NFL was $5.5 million a year. Only starting quarterbacks
earned more.

The role of the left tackle is literally to be his "brother's keeper." -
Sam McKee, Sunnyvale, California; source: NPR, All Things Considered
(10-10-06)

Yes, if you are a hot-shot quarterback playing in the NFL, you definitely
want a "brother's keeper at left tackle." Your health and well-being
depends on it. Your physical safety depends on it. Your ability to perform
depends on it. Without that "brother's keeper" doing his job, it would take
only a few hits to put you out of the game permanently. No wonder such big
bucks go into the bank accounts of such big old guys.

Wouldn't it be great if every Christian played at that position for every
other Christian? When God went looking for Abel, and asked Cain if he knew
where he was, Cain's guilty reply was to question his own responsibility.
"Am I my brother's keeper?" Well, actually, Cain, yes. You are your
brother's keeper. Or should have been! Instead, Cain's anger and
displeasure at the rejection of his sacrifice and the acceptance of his
brother's, moved him to become a murderer. He wasn't a "brother's keeper,"
but a "brother's discarder." Then he had the audacity to challenge God on
the matter, openly asking if his brother was his responsibility.

It's been said by many that today we live in a world of the temporary, a
world of the throw-away everything. From products to relationships, it's
easier to discard things than take care of them or repair them.

Few of us want to be responsible for anybody else. It's quite
understandable. We have trouble enough being responsible for ourselves.
What happens to others is on their own shoulders. But this goes against the
grain of all that the Bible teaches about human relationships. We are to
encourage one another. We are to serve one another. We are to look out for
the interests of others, not just ourselves. We are to comfort one another,
love one another, even restore one another when sin attacks.

If you were an NFL quarterback, you'd demand that the team owners hire a
top-notch "brothers's keeper" to fill the left tackle spot. As a Christian,
you ought to hope that you have access to some folks who have your interests
at heart, and who will "keep" you. But for that to really work, you have to
be a "brother's keeper" too! It's the old
I'll-watch-your-back-and-you-watch-mine theory. On our own, neither of us
will do well. Together, we have a sure chance. What do you say, brother
(or sister!). Are you a keeper? Am I?

C Copyright 2009, Dr. Bill Denton
All Rights Reserved



Bible Study
My Brother's Keeper
By Bill Denton

1. Read Genesis 4:1-15. This is one of those stories, about which one
might wish God had given more information. There are questions left
unanswered that might help us understand the problem of Cain and Abel
better. Here are a few of those questions. How might knowing the answers
provide us with interesting and helpful information?

A. In what way, if any, did God instruct Cain and Abel regarding the
sacrifice they each made?

B. Was Cain's problem with what he offered, or with an attitude of heart?

C. Why did Cain become angry? We know he did, but knowing why would be
helpful.

D. Gen. 4:8 is translated differently in various versions. Some suggest
that Cain invited Abel to go with him for a walk in the fields. Others
(staying more with the literal text), simply say that Cain spoke to Abel, or
had words with him. Assuming the latter, what might Cain have said to Abel?
Why was he angry with Abel? What had Abel done to Cain?

E. It's a fact that Cain killed Abel. But was it premeditated (the
invitation to walk in the fields part of the plan), or was it a result of
the heat of his anger?

F. Do any of these questions (and possibly others) matter at all, or are
they just curiosity?



2. Cain's question to God, "Am I my brother's keeper," is in response to
God's question to Cain. "Where's Abel?" Cain knew exactly where Abel was.
He knew he was dead. He knew he had caused his brother's death. What
exactly was Cain trying to do?

A. Was he trying to dodge any guilt on his part?

B. Was he in denial?

C. Was he trying to elicit an excuse from God?

D. What do you think he was trying to do with this question?



3. The idea behind the word "keeper" is that of a guard or watchman,
someone who has responsibility to protect something or someone. Consider
the following:

A. Was Cain his brother's keeper?

B. In what way did killing his brother violate the very question he asked
God?

C. A form of this same word, "keeper," is used in a number of other
passages. Read the verses below. In what way to they help us understand
what Cain was asking?

1) Gen 2:15

2) Gen 3:24

3) Gen 17:9-10

4) Gen 28:15

5) Gen 41:35



4. Do a concordance search and look up the "one another" passages found in
the New Testament. Over and over, scripture tells us that we have a
responsibility to one another. We are to "keep" one another. Consider
these questions:

A. What attitude must you have toward others if you are going to
successfully "keep" your brother (or sister)?

B. Why must you deal with your own relationship with God if you are to
effectively follow the "one another" passages in the New Testament?

C. Are you more interested in yourself or in others? Be honest here.
You're the only one who will know the real answer.

D. Write a short paragraph explaining what it means to be a "brother's
keeper."



5. Write down three things you will do this week to keep a brother (or
sister).



C Copyright 2009, Dr. Bill Denton


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