BROTHERLY OBLIGATION - Michelle McKinney Hammond.

Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” - GENESIS 4:9

The concept of being responsible for someone other than yourself can feel foreign to someone who walks alone. Independence can be as much a curse as it is a blessing. “In-dependent.” The very structure of the word encourages us to go within ourselves. To depend on no one but ourselves. Not God. Not a man, a friend, or a family member. No one. And we can master being self-sufficient to a great degree. However, the more time we take to serve ourselves, the less time we have to serve others. This is a very common malady among singles. Our lives can become myopic, rendering us less sensitive to others.

Are we our brother or sister’s keeper? Indeed, we are. As members of the body of Christ, we are called to bear one another’s burdens. To mourn with those who weep and celebrate with those who rejoice. To bear the infirmities of the weak if we are stronger. We are encouraged in Scripture to help others if we have something they need rather than just saying, “I will be praying for you.” God says that what we do for the least of people we do for Him. When we care for the less fortunate, we become His hands reaching out to those He wants to touch and bless. In this way we are all accountable for how we treat each other. Life isn’t just for the sake of living. It’s also for the sake of imparting God’s love.

Who is God calling you to touch today?

PRAY THIS PRAYER WITH ME:
Dear heavenly Father, make me an instrument of Your care to others today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”