”
.. God knows the needs of His children, and He often works
through us, prompting us to help one another. When we act on such
promptings, we tread on holy ground, for we are allowed the
opportunity to serve as an agent of God in answering a prayer.
”
– Kathleen H. Hughes
“.. God knows the needs of His children, and He often works through us, prompting us to help one another. When we act on such promptings, we tread on holy ground, for we are allowed the opportunity to serve as an agent of God in answering a prayer.” – Kathleen H. Hughes
Am I my brother’s keeper? From the very beginning of the history of mankind, that question has been asked. Cain asked it of the Lord when confronted by the Lord as to the whereabouts of his slain brother, Abel (Genesis 4: 1-9). Should the answer today be any different than what it should have been then? Unfortunately the answer today is all too often the same as that implied by Cane in the beginning – “no.”
The results of this “natural man” mind-set has led to misery and war among the peoples and nations of the earth throughout history. In the Middle East and elsewhere today we see brother killing brother, brothers who sometimes share a common ethnic, cultural and language heritage. Are they their brothers’ keeper? Hardly, and yet with a little understanding they could be.
The example of how mankind should be keeping his brother was illustrated by the Savior Jesus Christ in His parable of the Good Samaritan, as found in Luke 10:25-37. Here we read how a Jew who fell among thieves and was left half dead was ignored by others of his nationality, but who was cared for as a brother by one who was reviled by the Jews. The story concludes with the admonition of the Lord to “Go, and do thou likewise.”
A dream worth remembering: A further illustration of this principle is embodied in the story of a man who fell asleep and dreamed one night that he was a visitor to Hell. What he witnessed was truly amazing, for there, stretching into what appeared to be eternity, was a long table filled with every conceivable food to delight mankind.
He quickly observed, however, that the multitudes of mankind sitting on either side of the table were starving, withered and pale, with sunken eyes longingly staring at what they could not obtain. You see, permanently encased on their hands were eating utensils of such a length that they were unable to bend the food to their mouths once they had secured it on their long spoon and fork utensils. So this is Hell, he thought, and the dream changed.
He was now visiting what appeared to be Heaven. Strangely, however, the scene was almost identical to what he had witnessed in Hell. There was the long table filled with the most delightful foods one could imagine, and on either side were multitudes of mankind with those same long eating utensils, too long to allow them to bend the food to their own mouths. Unlike in Hell, however, these souls were well nourished and happy, with sparkling eyes and loving countenances. You see, they were reaching out across the table to feed each other.
What a wonderful world we would have if everyone realized that we are all sons and daughters of the same Father in Heaven, and thus every other human being is in reality “our brother.” At this time of the year we come closer to fulfilling the admonition of the Savior, to be our brother’s keeper, than at any other time. I pray that we might have this feeling of brotherhood not only during this holiday season, but for every other day throughout the year as well, and that the peace that comes from this feeling might be spread throughout the whole world.
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” … “Go, and do thou likewise.”
