One of the greatest spiritual blessings that God gives His people is the love of their brethren. Jesus said that brotherly love would signal our relationship with Him. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." {John 13:34,35} Let us examine some things that make good brethren so valuable.
Brethren help us deal with life's difficulties. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." {Romans 12:15} Unfortunately, life can be tough. Difficulties often come upon us without much notice. A loved one is injured in an accident; a serious illness is detected; or someone treats us in an unkind and hurtful way. Certainly, we can always pray to our Father in heaven {Hebrews 13:5,6; 1 Peter 5:7}. Still, it helps to have brethren who will talk with us and help us bear these burdens.
On more than one occasion, I have sat in hospital rooms and nursing homes watching grief and sorrow overwhelm a brother or sister who was dealing with the loss of someone very precious to them. Watching a person leave this world to enter the next stage of life is a very humbling experience. What do you say? How do you comfort those who are hurting? Most times our presence and tears say all that needs saying. A gospel preacher told me about the loss of his wife. Many of his brethren who were there with him didn't quite know what to say. He later told them, "your presence, your handshake, a warm hug, and your tears helped ease the pain in my heart."
Brethren provide needed correction. "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." {Galatians 6:1,2} From time to time, God's children all get off track as we go about living our lives. Thank God for brethren who love you enough and care enough about your soul to come to you and point out the changes you need to make. Do you really appreciate such brethren? What greater thing could one brother do for another than to be watchful for his soul? Instead of becoming angry, we need to thank God and our brother for the expression of such concern. No one likes to be wrong, or be shown to be wrong, but when being wrong can destroy my fellowship with God and have eternal ramifications-please tell me!
Why did God bless us with one another? Who better than another Christian understands the difficulty of living the Christian life? Who better than another Christian understands the pressure the world places on us to conform to their standards instead of God's? Good brethren, understand that we are in this together. In God's infinite wisdom, He gave us each other so that we can all get to heaven.
I feel like I'm a very lucky preacher. I have good brethren where I preach, good preaching friends, and brethren in other parts of the world who love me and are always there when I need them. May their tribe increase. Are you this type of friend to your brethren? Can they count on you when they are in need? May God help us to be there for one another-we need each other!