In Romans 12:10 the Bible tells us to “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.” As Christians we are to love one another as brothers and sisters and only through Christ is this possible
It is understood that brothers and sisters should love one another, but as with any relationship, there will be problems. There will be times of feeling one is being favored over the other or fighting over possessions and all that. When it comes down to it, most brothers and sisters defend, protect and love one another with a bond that can’t be broken. Yet, when we look at the stories involving brothers and sisters in the Bible, we find jealousy, rage, murder…much like what goes on today.
Cain and Able, the sons of Adam and Eve, were not “kindly affectioned” and Cain’s jealousy led to murder. Miriam, the older sister of Moses, protected him when he was a baby and worked closely with him and their other brother Aaron during the exodus from Egypt. Yet when she felt Moses was getting all the credit she spoke against him. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery because their father plainly favored him. Twins, Jacob and Esau, were at odds even before they were born. Leah and Rachel were both married to Jacob…a story filled with lies, deceit and jealousy.
Two sisters, Mary and Martha, are mentioned often in the New Testament. They, along with their brother, Lazareth, were among Jesus closest friends. One time when Jesus visited them, Mary sat at His feet listening intently to every word He had to say while Martha was busy preparing a meal. Frustrated that her sister was getting to enjoy the visit while she had to do all the work, Martha complained to Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Why don’t you ask that she help me?”
Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things but one thing is needed: and Mary has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her.”
In John 6: 27 Jesus told the people, “Labor not for the meat that perishes but for the meat that endures to everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you.”
One of the rules God set forth for the people of the Old Testament was that if they brought an offering as a sacrifice for sin, but had hard feelings against their brother, the offering would not be accepted until they first went and made amends.
Some brothers and sisters allow hurt feelings and circumstances to drive them so far apart the possibility of reconcilliation seems impossible. But, as we should know by now, with God all things are possible. The solution to every problem is prayer. Ask God to help resolve the matter…but the first step is forgiveness on your part. Someone said recently that it is hard to hate somebody when you’re praying for them. How true this is.
It is a fact too that the world today needs more forgiveness…and not just between siblings. If we hold onto resentment and hurt feelings and never deal with them we only hurt ourselves. Take a close look at any situation where hard feelings were involved and try to see the other person’s point of view as well. Be honest about whatever was your fault, take responsibility for it, then pray.
James 5: 16 Confess your faults one to another, that ye may be healed. The effectual and fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
