Not As Cain Loved

“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” (1Jo 3:11-12 AV)

The implication here is fascinating.  There were no saints murdering one another.  Therefore, John is making a comparison between the love Cain had for his brother, and the love Christ seeks from us.  We imply that since Cain killed Abel; he had no love for his brother.  Ever.  That is simply not the case.  It would seem by the words of John; Cain did indeed have love for his brother.  However, self-love and pride were stronger.  Growing up, no doubt they had brotherly moments.  In their home and early adult life, perhaps that same relationship continued.  They shared meals.  They played together.  They worked their father’s fields together.  They worked the flocks together.  Because of their shared space, duties, and lineage, there was something there.  What lacked was an understanding of sacrificial love.  At least by Cain.  Cain could not tolerate his brother’s walk with God.  Jealousy is the only motive for what he did.  He was corrected by God.  It would be nothing for him to find a lamb and do the same as Abel did.  No harm, no foul.  All is good.  Rather, his pride got the better of him.  He could not stomach that God would reject his best while accepting Abel’s best merely because of the nature of the offering.  There was love there.  But pride and self-interest were stronger.

Love is good.  Any amount of love is beneficial.  But sacrificial love is the deepest and highest form.  I guess what alarmed me was John’s observation meant that most believers have the love Cain had for Abel, and not the love Christ intended for us to have.  This depth of love comes with the risk of great harm.  On the surface, it looks adequate.  However, when crisis came, the depth of love Cain had for Abel simply wasn’t deep enough.  As a hospital chaplain, this is all too common.  I would visit a room while a patient was relatively well and expected to recover.  However, if the patient was suffering from a prolonged and dramatic illness, family ties often became strained.  Is several cases, the heartbreak of a child’s illness and death would lead to divorce.  The strain of their trial brought to light how shallow, or at least not deep enough, their love for one another was.  It is really heartbreaking. 

I am concerned for our modern churches.  We have lost the sense of something bigger than ourselves, to which we will sacrifice everything.  Our love for the Savior and for one another is only as deep as it benefits self.  What we do not consider is the love spoken of above.  To give one’s life is the deepest expression of love possible.  To sacrifice all our needs, dreams, aspirations, goals, etc. for the sake of another is simply not part of our mindset.  Don’t get me wrong.  We will give financially to ease another’s burden.  We will spend time helping those who need it.  We will often give a few hours of service to the LORD’s house.  But how deep does that go?  We have lost something.  There has been a cultural shift in the last 75 years.  What we gained from our experience in WWII was lost in Vietnam.  As a nation, we were willing to put our lives on the line for those in desperate need of liberty.  This raised a generation that knew what is meant to love thy neighbor as thyself.  Now, we do what we do because our own self-interests are first.  Don’t misunderstand me.  If I had a family of young children and my wife in the car and we were faced with a life and death situation, I would not sacrifice my family for someone else.  I am duty bound to protect what God has graciously given.  This is not to what we are referring.  Rather, for the sake of saving souls, our churches have lost this calling.  We have built churches to please the saints and have left the lost to a passing thought.  We love them, but not deep enough.  We love our brother in Christ.  But not enough to sacrifice what is important to us for his sake.  We love as Cain loved.  But not deep enough.