INTRODUCTION
How should one deal with one’s brethren, in a variety of relationships where individuals possess different traits and are ruled by the thoughts of the heart which only God can know? This series called ‘Brethren’, explains the concept of people in diverse brethren relationships and the purpose of Father God in relationships.
It uses the biblical references of Jacob’s children, known as the ‘twelve tribes of Israel’, to illustrate the relationships they symbolise of brethren: as families, communities, tribes, organisations, colleagues, congregations, or as nations of the earth. It reveals the symbolism of the different traits and dispositions of good and evil that are inherent in the brethren relationship and the implications for peaceful co-existence with brethren.
The series will emphasise the importance of identifying and understanding one’s relationship with Father God as a distinct component of sustaining our earthly brethren relationships. Particularly, it provides guidance on how those who trust in God may, by the inspiration of His love, obtain the wisdom and discretion they need to deal with brethren relationships.
In this first introductory part, we introduce the concept of brethren in terms of people and relationships at a human level. It shows individuality and the thoughts of one’s heart as the core of brethren relationships and highlights the risk of reposing trust in the brethren.
1. THE BRETHREN RELATIONSHIPS
The term brethren are about people on the one hand, and of relationships on the other hand. Usually it defines members of a family, a community, tribes, organisations, colleagues, peoples of a city, or a country. Brethren relationships exist at a human earthly level. Brethren relationships also exist at a divine level, generally between all peoples of the earth and the Almighty God and between each individual and God.
But the tendency is usually for the brethren to perceive each individual in the earthly human connections. For example, we see people as our brethren through the lens of the relationships which we may share such as by birth, lineage, ideology, belief, agreement, affinity, tradition, covenant etc. The brethren’s perception will thus largely derive from the expectations that each of the brethren may have, based on the nature, purpose, strength or weakness of the given relationship.
2. INDIVIDUALS AMONG BRETHREN
But while the nature, purpose, strength or weakness of the given relationship may shape the brethren’s view, the role of the individual is very important. Consider that, in spite of the tie, belief, ideology, or tradition that may unite the brethren in relationships, the individuality and identity of each person remains the core of the brethren whole. And the individual is determined according to the thoughts or desires of his heart. In other words, each person among the brethren remains a distinct individual with own heart with a personality and will, although they may share a connection.
Even more complex, is the fact that each brethren’s heart and thoughts are only visible to God, while his conduct may be visible to the brethren. In this situation therefore, it becomes difficult to link the conduct of each brethren to the intentions of his heart, which makes the outward appearance of a person’s actions towards the brethren prone to perceptions that could be misleading.
2.1. THOUGHTS OF THE HEART
What is the state of the heart of brethren? The scripture tells us that: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts; brethren “speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak”. (Matthew 15:19; Psalm 12:2).
, “trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth…” It is [thus] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man” or in brethren relationships. (Jeremiah 9:4-5; Psalm 118:8-9).
3. THE TRUST OF THE BRETHREN
We must trust only in God and not in the brethren or the relationships one cultivates or enjoys therein. For, only God can see that “…every imagination of the thoughts of [man’s] heart was only evil continually”; And he only can search and try the heart of every brethren according to his ways. (Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:10). And we know that God hates “an heart that devises wicked imaginations… and he that soweth discord among brethren”. (Proverbs 6:16-19).
Brethren, consider that “cursed be the man that [trusts] in man, and [makes] flesh his arm, and whose heart [departs] from the LORD”. And “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!” (Jeremiah 17:5; Isaiah 31:1).
Therefore, given the individual core in brethren relationships and the propensity of evil in the man’s heart, human relationships will always pose a challenge to understand, sustain or depend on, without a corresponding relationship with God who is the creator of all mankind and who sees and tries our hearts.
The next message will examine the purpose and role of God in brethren relationships. It will distinguish between people of the world who enjoy God’s love as His creation from the people that may be in a brethren relationship with God.
PRAYER
Almighty Father, we give thanks and praise for Your word.
Dear Lord, we thank you for our brethren and our relationships.
Gracious Father, we invite you in our hearts to consume every evil thoughts and desires.
Mighty Lord, you who “search the heart, [and] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings”, we commit all our brethren relationships to your charge.
While we remain brethren, in whatever our relationships, help us dear God, to fear and trust only in you.
And grant us your peace.
I make this prayer in JESUS Name.
Have a blessed week and a fruitful month.
Lots of Love, P. Schwartz (SOG) 01/11/2020.
