Good Morning Friends,
“In the course of time Cain brought some of
the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat
portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on
Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.
So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain,
‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will
you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at
your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.’ Now Cain said to
his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ And while they were in the
field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” (Genesis 4:3-8)
Cain’s gift to God had a problem.
The problem is in the phrase “some of.” Abel
brought the fat portions from his flock, but Cain just brought some of his
crop. He wasn’t concerned about whether it was the best portion. He just went
into his storehouse and brought out whatever was easiest to get to. Abel made
the effort to look through his flock and choose the best for God. “Some of”
says a great deal about Cain’s heart.
When King David wanted to make an offering to
the Lord, Araunah wanted to give the place where the offering would be made to
David. David refused to take it as a gift from Araunah. He said, “No, I insist
on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings
that cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24)
David refused to give God something that did
not cost him. What Cain gave cost him very little. What Abel gave cost him a
great deal.
Do you give God what is easy to give, what
costs you little? Or are your gifts to God costly for you to give?
His, by Grace,
Steve
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