Am I My Brother's Keeper?

Toward the beginning of earthly time, there were two brothers: Cain and Abel. Cain hearkened not unto the Lord but Abel was faithful. Cain entered into a secret contract with Satan. Satan would deliver Abel to Cain. Cain would kill Abel. And thus it came to pass. When the Lord came, he questioned Cain as to the whereabouts of Abel. Cain's response was "...am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9)

Today this question might seem a bit of a challenge to answer. Caught up are we in all the hubbub and chaos of today's world. We are taught not to intrude upon another's right to choose what they want for themselves. Thus, rarely do we look outside of or beyond the tunnel through which we look at our own lives. In other words, we have tunnel vision. Our perspective is small and generally centered upon our own personal affairs. If something is happening with our neighbor (brother/sister as we are all children of God) we either don't know that they need help, don't know them well enough to extend help, are too busy to help, or assume someone else is going to help.

Then there is this whole other issue of agency. One of the main reasons we are here on earth is to exercise our agency and choose for ourselves what we want. So if someone makes a choice to do something good or really really bad, who are we to say yeah or nay to their choice?

So the ultimate question is then: How do we be our brother's keeper without overriding their agency to choose?

Believe it or not but the answers are really pretty simple.

#1 Be an example to your brother. (Show through your actions how to make good and righteous choices. Be careful not to be self-righteous as we are ALL still trying to improve and become perfect even as Christ is).

#2 Pray for your brother. (Through earnest and sincere prayer we can ask for the Lord's help in softening hearts, humbling those with pride, and giving life-changing experiences to those whose path has deviated from that of the Lord's).

#3 Love your brother. (Show them compassion, support, quick forgiveness, and a willingness to love them no matter what).

Christ teaches us that he would have us care for and worry about our "brother" as we are all trying to get back to our Heavenly Father someday. We must use our own agency along with the counsel of the Lord to help us be our brother's keeper by example, prayer, and lots of love. Being your brother's keeper doesn't mean you smother them or keep them from making their own choices. It means showing them the way without saying a word. It means speaking to the Lord on their behalf and it means loving them no matter the choices they make.

Yes, I am my brother's keeper!