Relationship between siblings

Intro

As believers we get to make so many choices but then we don’t get to choose our
parents and siblings. Last week we talked about ways to maintain a healthy
relationship with our parents. For today’s discussion we will focus on ways to
improve our relationships with our siblings.

Discussion

- Read Genesis 4:1-16. From the reading it is clear that God is interested in
how we relate to our siblings. Why does God care about how we relate with
our siblings?

God created family. everything God has created, he called good and are wonderful. Our siblings
are image bearers (Genesis 1:27). God made them fearfully and wonderfully (psalm 139:26) and
are valuable to him (Matthew 6:26; John 3:16)

⁃ Read 1 john 3:12. From the scripture, the evil deeds of Cain caused him to murder his brother.
What are some bad traits that can strain the relationship between us and our siblings?

Anger, jealousy, hatred when left unchecked can cause the beautiful gift of family to be
destroyed. Cain could not control his anger, he gave in to sin and ended up murdering Abel.
- What does it mean to be your brother's keeper?
caring for the spiritual, physical, mental and emotional health of your siblings. Galatians 6:2
admonishes us to bear one another’s burdens to fulfill the law of Christ.
- Read Mark 3:31-35. According to the scripture, Jesus did not respond to his immediate sidings
but called those he was with as his brothers and sisters. When should we prioritize our
relationship with others over our siblings? When is it appropriate to do that?
Mark 3:35
[35] For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
The will of God for us as children of God should be paramount to our interests or that of our
siblings. We have to search the scriptures what JESUS requires us to know and do.
- Why should we be intentional about developing a healthy relationship with our siblings?
Every good and perfect gift is from above. (James 1:17) our siblings are a gift from God to us. To
show our appreciation to God for the gift of family, we have to love, pray and care for them.
When there is unity at home, our families flourish.
Psalm 133:1

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

Also, a broken relationship hinders our blessings from God. Jesus placed premium on the act of
reconciliation over the act of giving. (Matthew 5:23-24).
- The theme of love is predominant in the scriptures, Jesus spoke extensively on love and acted
in love (Matthew 22:39, Ephesians 5:2) As Christ followers, how can we love our siblings well?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 provides a model to follow on how to love our siblings.
[4] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. It does
not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [6] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,
but rejoices with the truth. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures
all things.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31. How can we navigate conflict in a way that brings glory to the lord?
Be angry but do not sin (Ephesians 4:26) . Be honest about your emotions. Have an open
conversation with your sibling on what they do that you don’t like, if they persist, involve your
parents.
- Should our siblings be a part of our friends? Why or why not?
Having a sibling does not guarantee friendship. Let us not assume that our siblings are
automatically our friends. To cultivate friendship between us and our

siblings, we have to work at knowing them, being intentional to learn about their likes and
dislikes, fears and aspirations etc.
Conclusion
God cares about our relationship with our siblings therefore Let us work at having a thriving
relationship with our siblings by staying in God's and presence to receive direction and guidance
from the Holy Spirit on how to love our siblings well even when they annoy us.