Heart of Giving

Genesis 4:1-8 Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD.” Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

After reading about the fall of man previously we move on to the lives of the children of Adam and Eve. This is again a story familiar to most people because it highlights an error on God's part or so it seems.

Why was God biased towards Abel over Cain when both of them brought their first fruits as an offering to Him? What does God want to teach us today?

God seriously punished Adam and Eve for their terrible choice and this punishment has become a life principle for us today. We toil to make a living and women suffer severe pain during childbirth.

After God moved them out of the garden of Eden, they conceived and had two sons and Eve's heart was revealed when she praised God for this provision. We are reminded in Psalm 127:3 'Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward'. Therefore Eve certainly thanked God for these sons as a gift from Him to them.

These sons grew and during harvest time, brought their first produce to give to God. Cain's gift was the first fruits and produce because he was a farmer and Abel's was the firstlings of his flock because he was a shepherd. Both gifts were the first fruits but God was pleased with Abel and not with Cain.

The reason for this is the attitude of Cain's heart which later manifested in Him killing his own brother to quench his anger with God. God loves a cheerful giver and hates those who mock him with their bribes.

Abel gave out of his sincere gratitude for what God had blessed him with but Cain gave because he had to give. Here's what Jesus said when he saw a poor widow come and put in only two small copper coins versus the rich who were putting in large sums into the treasury: (Mark 12:43-44) Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on."

As you can see, God values the gifts that we give from our heart and therefore today we are reminded that whatever we give to God, whether it be our time, resources, attention, love, etc., that we give it with our entire heart for our God loves a cheerful giver. Lets not do anything because we have to and make our relationship with God about works but lets do it because we love to and honor God with our lives.

In His Loving Service,

ServantBoy

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

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Vineet Verghese

11.5.2010