Article October 7, 1911 Issue

"AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?"

DAISY BEDFORD.

One of the most striking and helpful narratives of the Old Testament is that of Cain and Abel. In Science and Health (p. 540), Mrs. Eddy describes Cain as "the type of mortal and material man, conceived in sin ... Material in origin and sense, he brings a material offering to God." In the Glossary (Ibid., p. 579) we read that Abel typifies "watchfulness; self-offering." We can thus clearly see why Abel's offering was accepted, Cain's refused. Cain was wroth that his brother's gift was accepted, not recognizing that what God demands of each one of us with our gift, is the surrender of self-will, the willingness to lay our all upon the altar of Love; as the prophet Isaiah says, "Not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord."

Truth lovingly uncovered to Cain the reason his gift was not accepted—"If thou doest well"—and we are left to draw our own conclusions from the fact that his gift was refused; for "the sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?" Cain's state of mind was shown in the murder of his brother. Jealousy and pride is not the spirit in which to offer unto the Lord. It had been pointed out to Cain that, had he done well, the same reward would have been his portion as his brother had received; but, as is so often the case, instead of heeding the rebuke and endeavoring to cast out envious and resentful thoughts, he indulged them, until it was only one step from bitter wrath to the murder of his brother, thus sweeping out of his path that which would have led him into the ways of peace and holiness.

Each of us, like Cain and Abel, desires to offer of his "firstfruits" unto the Lord. The worth of that offering, the blessing which will reward the giver, will be according to the selflessness of the gift. How often, when presenting it, are we tempted to be envious of our brother.—his larger understanding, his better work, the spiritual gifts of love, goodness, meekness, gentleness, which he expresses, the clear thought which enables him to preach the gospel with "signs following." If we would only pause right here, and see how we might correct our work and learn how to pattern it after his higher ideal, then all would be well and the time would probably come when in the stress of difficulties or trouble he would turn to us for inspiration, for the loving help which points away from self upward to God and bids the struggling heart be of good cheer. If, instead of doing this, we succumb to the temptation to judge and condemn our brother, Jesus' denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees will fall to our lot: "Woe unto you ... for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, ... ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered."

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