Wisdom's Corner
Brotherly LoveMost children have brothers or sisters. Brothers and sisters are great to have. If they are bigger than you, they can help protect you from danger. Or they can help you with school work. Or they can be fun to play with.
If brothers and sisters are younger, you can protect them. And you can help teach them. And you can play with them. Brothers and sisters truly are a blessing from God.
But at times brothers and sisters can get on our nerves. They may get in the way of what we are trying to do. They may accidentally mess up something we are working on. We may want to do something they are doing. We may be jealous of what they get to do.
We are not supposed to think bad things about our brothers and sisters. We are not supposed to treat our brothers and sisters in a bad way. We are supposed to love each other and always treat each other right.
God says that the people in His church are supposed to treat one another just like a family. In Romans 12:10 it says, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." How is the world supposed to think good things about the church if the members are always arguing and treating each other badly?
If you are always treating your own brother or sister badly, or if you cannot get along with them, how are others supposed to think you will treat them? They will think you will treat them just like you treat your own brother or sister.
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. This will tell you what true love (including brotherly love) is like. You need to start living this kind of love toward your own brothers and sisters now. Make this kind of love a habit of your life. Then when you deal with other members of the church, you will know what true brotherly kindness and love is all about. You will treat others just like you treated your brothers and sisters.
Until next time, keep reading and studying your Bible. Get the wisdom of God. Treat your brothers and sisters the way God wants you to. And treat others the way God wants you to. And if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
Mark McWhorter
Copyright 1999
Published by The Old Paths Bible School
(http://www.oldpaths.org)