Brother's keeper

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Livingsacrifice

Guest
#1
#1
A question was raised after God realized that Abel's blood had been spilled by His older brother Cain. God asked Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? God already knew what Cain had done. He just wanted Cain to confess his sin. Cain's reply, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? Jesus said the second greatest commandment was to love your neighbor. My question is where do we as Christians draw the line of bring our brother's keeper. When do we step into a situation we are not involved in. The common phrase is It is none of my business. So how do we distinguish when we need to make a situation our business or not. I have been watching a lot of those ABC's what would you do scenarios and I ask myself as a living question how would I react. Tell me a story in which you had to make a judgment call and how did you handle it and what was the outcome. Remember Jesus said I am always about my Father's business.
 
dcontroversal

dcontroversal

Banned
#2
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
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#2
I would think the answer would be obvious......if someone needs help....Help them....there are a few examples and qualifications though....for example some are....

Jesus speaks to this such as-->The good Samaritan, If you do it to the least of the brethren you have done it to me, A glass of cold water or feeding the hungry (the fishes and the loaves)

James as well--->A brother being destitute of clothing and food

Paul---->A man that won't work does not deserve to eat

etc....
 
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Livingsacrifice

Guest
#3
#3
I agree with said statements. I am thinking about those who try to be heroic. I had a situation at a movie theater my wife and I were at. We had a table there in the hall of the theater distributing Hacksaw Ridge books. A couple walked past and the husband was yelling and saying how stupid the theater was for selling popcorn but not having any toothpicks. He was so mad he began calling his wife or girlfriend stupid. He angrily demanded the keys to the car because he was going to go home and get a toothpick. He walked his wife or girlfriend to their theater. I prayed Lord show me how to help this situation. The Holy Spirit brought to my mind the fact that they gave a bar at the theater and the bar will have toothpicks. I went into the bar and asked for toothpicks. Sure enough they had a plastic cup full of those sword toothpicks. They were pink. I grabbed two quickly and just met the man before he walked out of the exit doors. I asked him if that toothpick would work. He said yeah and just walked away happy as could be. He was so much more nicer to his wife as I meant them after their movie got out. He even took two Hacksaw Ridge books. I share this story because God has His timing and we may not always be the one fitted for that moment. We need discernment and the power of prayer when these situations come up. It also depends on our motives. If we are out to bring glory to ourselves and not to God, we are in for a big mess.
 
dcontroversal

dcontroversal

Banned
#4
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
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#4
Livingsacrifice said:
I agree with said statements. I am thinking about those who try to be heroic. I had a situation at a movie theater my wife and I were at. We had a table there in the hall of the theater distributing Hacksaw Ridge books. A couple walked past and the husband was yelling and saying how stupid the theater was for selling popcorn but not having any toothpicks. He was so mad he began calling his wife or girlfriend stupid. He angrily demanded the keys to the car because he was going to go home and get a toothpick. He walked his wife or girlfriend to their theater. I prayed Lord show me how to help this situation. The Holy Spirit brought to my mind the fact that they gave a bar at the theater and the bar will have toothpicks. I went into the bar and asked for toothpicks. Sure enough they had a plastic cup full of those sword toothpicks. They were pink. I grabbed two quickly and just met the man before he walked out of the exit doors. I asked him if that toothpick would work. He said yeah and just walked away happy as could be. He was so much more nicer to his wife as I meant them after their movie got out. He even took two Hacksaw Ridge books. I share this story because God has His timing and we may not always be the one fitted for that moment. We need discernment and the power of prayer when these situations come up. It also depends on our motives. If we are out to bring glory to ourselves and not to God, we are in for a big mess.
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He definitely places us in certain situations and at the right time for sure.....a few days ago I hauled 2-->5 gallon cans to town to get gas....99.9% of the time I usually haul one....that day I hauled two.....on the way home...and I live like 30 miles from town and on a 6 mile gravel road....got almost all the way home and ran into a professed believer out of gas.......what are the odds? Stuff like that happens to me a lot......
 
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Livingsacrifice

Guest
#5
#5
God works in mysterious ways. I appreciate that God has given you eyes of discernment. I have lots of stories about being in the front lines for Jesus. I used to be a Colporteur. Shabbat Shalom. Have a blessed weekend.
 
M

mar09

Senior Member
#6
Sep 17, 2014
4,927
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#6
Livingsacrifice said:
God works in mysterious ways. I appreciate that God has given you eyes of discernment. I have lots of stories about being in the front lines for Jesus. I used to be a Colporteur. Shabbat Shalom. Have a blessed weekend.
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This is a good thread. I hope you and others share more.
 
G00WZ

G00WZ

Senior Member
#7
May 16, 2014
1,313
447
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#7
Just randomly remembered.. didn't obama have a "my brothers keeper" program or something a while back?
 
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Livingsacrifice

Guest
#8
#8
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Thank you for that wonderful comment mar09. Being on the front lines for Jesus takes a lot of faith in what Christ wants to do through you. My wife and I went to Chicago over Labor day weekend. About 30 of us even some as young as 3 went out and handed out or put in car doors over 200,000 GLOW tracts which are little Gospel tracts. I had a homeless lady ask me to pray with her. After we had prayer she stood up and have me a hug that nearly broke my ribs.
 
Utah

Utah

Banned
#9
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
251
0
#9
Livingsacrifice said:
A question was raised after God realized that Abel's blood had been spilled by His older brother Cain. God asked Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? God already knew what Cain had done. He just wanted Cain to confess his sin. Cain's reply, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? Jesus said the second greatest commandment was to love your neighbor. My question is where do we as Christians draw the line of bring our brother's keeper. When do we step into a situation we are not involved in. The common phrase is It is none of my business. So how do we distinguish when we need to make a situation our business or not. I have been watching a lot of those ABC's what would you do scenarios and I ask myself as a living question how would I react. Tell me a story in which you had to make a judgment call and how did you handle it and what was the outcome. Remember Jesus said I am always about my Father's business.
Click to expand...
Put others before you. Hopefully you'll never have to be in harm's way, but if so, give your life if necessary. That's top shelf.
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#10
Sep 4, 2013
30,189
6,534
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#10
dcontroversal said:
He definitely places us in certain situations and at the right time for sure.....a few days ago I hauled 2-->5 gallon cans to town to get gas....99.9% of the time I usually haul one....that day I hauled two.....on the way home...and I live like 30 miles from town and on a 6 mile gravel road....got almost all the way home and ran into a professed believer out of gas.......what are the odds? Stuff like that happens to me a lot......
Click to expand...

Hope there wasn't too much damage to either of your vehicles........did you at least offer them some fuel as you swapped Insurance info?
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#11
Sep 4, 2013
30,189
6,534
113
#11
In today's world/society, especially here in the US, the word "hero" is so very overused. Simple acts of kindness, or just someone responding in a common sense way to a situation qualifies them to be labeled Heros by the Media. Yes, there are heroic deeds done today............but not every deed is Heroic, just as not every work of Literature is Epic.


I once heard that a "hero" is simply someone who did what needed to be done when others turned away. Most "heroic acts" are not premeditated, they simply occur due to someone doing what needed to be done when it needed to be done.
 
dcontroversal

dcontroversal

Banned
#12
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,395
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#12
p_rehbein said:
Hope there wasn't too much damage to either of your vehicles........did you at least offer them some fuel as you swapped Insurance info?
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AHAH hilarious........no...we just chunked it under MERCY, GRACE and FORGIVNESS ;)
 
O

oldethennew

Banned
#13
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
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#13
oh yes, some great stories ! Thanks guys...

even at our age, hubby and me, we are continually amazed at the ways and means that Jesus uses us,
and especially at His 'timing'!:)it's truly always not only amazing, but so very comforting,
knowing that He Loves us enough to use us as His ambassadors...:cool:
 
M

mar09

Senior Member
#14
Sep 17, 2014
4,927
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#14
I remember the lines "My brother's keeper" from a grade school story with such title. Being a story for children, it was not very serious nor deep, as the passages from which it was taken are after all. I only saw the brother missing to help, then finding an opportunity to help a brother again. Gen. 4.9 is a serious question we are all being asked.

And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

It also reminds me of that verse that says

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
 
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