"Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—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." Genesis 4:2-5
Has it ever bothered you that God accepted Abel's sacrifice but rejected Cain's offering?
Does it seem unfair?
If it seems unfair to you it's because the story is unclear to you.
Cain was Adam and Eve's firstborn son and Abel was his little brother.
Because of the rebellious sin of their father and mother it became necessary for these sons to struggle to make a living off the land.
Cain became a tiller of the ground while Abel raised livestock. So, Cain was a farmer while Abel was a rancher.
When the season came for birthing Abel took his first born male animal and offered it as a sacrifice to God. God received Abel's sacrifice!
As Cain's crops ripened, he harvested the grain and brought an offering to the Lord. But God did not receive Cain's offering and Cain brooded over Gods rejection and rebuke. The more he sulked the angrier he became until he became enraged and murdered his little brother.
Understanding why God received Abel's offering but rejected Cain's offering is to understand the significance of the tithe.
A key word in this story is "firstborn". Abel brought the firstborn from his flock. He understood that the firstborn belonged to the Lord and he worshiped God by sacrificing the firstborn from his flock.
Because Abel offered the Lord an acceptable sacrifice God had no choice but to accept his offering.
When it comes to Cain, the key phrase is "in the course of time" and also, "some of the fruits of his soil".
While Abel brought the firstborn of his flocks as soon as it was born, Cain waited and brought an offering from the end of his harvest. Essentially, Cain gave God his leftovers.
God, because of His nature, was unable to receive Cain's leftovers. He deserves and demands our first and our best. That was not what Cain brought.
From this very first recorded instance of the tithe, we learn all that we need to know about the tithe. We are to bring God our first and our best because it belongs to Him in the first place, but also until we are willing to offer God our best He isn't really your God. And we give God our best because it turns our hearts toward Him. As Jesus said, "Where your treasure is there will your heart be also."
When it comes to giving are you a Cain or an Abel?
Do you give to God when it is convenient or when you can afford it?
Or, like Abel, do you bring your first portion on the first day as an act of worship and gratitude?
Tithing is giving of your firstborn on the first day. Tithing is a recognition that the tithe belongs to God and you gladly offer it to Him.
If it seems unfair to you it's because the story is unclear to you.
Cain was Adam and Eve's firstborn son and Abel was his little brother.
Because of the rebellious sin of their father and mother it became necessary for these sons to struggle to make a living off the land.
Cain became a tiller of the ground while Abel raised livestock. So, Cain was a farmer while Abel was a rancher.
When the season came for birthing Abel took his first born male animal and offered it as a sacrifice to God. God received Abel's sacrifice!
As Cain's crops ripened, he harvested the grain and brought an offering to the Lord. But God did not receive Cain's offering and Cain brooded over Gods rejection and rebuke. The more he sulked the angrier he became until he became enraged and murdered his little brother.
Understanding why God received Abel's offering but rejected Cain's offering is to understand the significance of the tithe.
A key word in this story is "firstborn". Abel brought the firstborn from his flock. He understood that the firstborn belonged to the Lord and he worshiped God by sacrificing the firstborn from his flock.
Because Abel offered the Lord an acceptable sacrifice God had no choice but to accept his offering.
When it comes to Cain, the key phrase is "in the course of time" and also, "some of the fruits of his soil".
While Abel brought the firstborn of his flocks as soon as it was born, Cain waited and brought an offering from the end of his harvest. Essentially, Cain gave God his leftovers.
God, because of His nature, was unable to receive Cain's leftovers. He deserves and demands our first and our best. That was not what Cain brought.
From this very first recorded instance of the tithe, we learn all that we need to know about the tithe. We are to bring God our first and our best because it belongs to Him in the first place, but also until we are willing to offer God our best He isn't really your God. And we give God our best because it turns our hearts toward Him. As Jesus said, "Where your treasure is there will your heart be also."
When it comes to giving are you a Cain or an Abel?
Do you give to God when it is convenient or when you can afford it?
Or, like Abel, do you bring your first portion on the first day as an act of worship and gratitude?
Tithing is giving of your firstborn on the first day. Tithing is a recognition that the tithe belongs to God and you gladly offer it to Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment