READ: GENESIS 4:1-7
The story of the first
two brothers has some lessons for today Christians. First, it shows us that God
deals with us individually. Also, God has laid down requirements He expects us
to measure our lives with. Whatever you do, say or think can either be in
compliance or at variance with God’s law which is forever settled in heaven
(Psalm 119:89).
After Cain and Abel attained physical maturity, they both made an offering to God. This exonerated their parents of any allegation of not bringing up their children to know the Lord. They must have relayed their lives before and after the fall to the duo and the fact that from their experience i.e before they were forgiven, God had to shed the blood of animals before clothing them in animal hide (Genesis 3:21). So what went wrong with the offering? Cain gave to God but his offering was not what God expected. Hebrews 9:22 says “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without the shedding of blood is no remission”. God required blood to be shed before sin could be forgiven but Cain felt God should be satisfied with whatever he gave. Any gift to God must be at God’s instance and satisfy His requirement. Any time you give something other than what God told you to, it will be unacceptable.
Moreover, Cain’s gift was taken from the earth that has been cursed. If your means of livelihood has shades of deceit, immorality, or bribery, it is accursed to God. If you are engaged in dubious business and hope to spend on the gospel from it, it will not be acceptable to God. God does not accept the tithes of whores, fornicators and sinners. God cannot be bribed even though some of His servants allow themselves to be bribed. Anything you give God must be clean. In addition, while Abel gave of the best of his cattle, Cain gave out of his convenience. Convenience giving attracts little or no reward. For your gift to attract great rewards, make it a sacrificial one. Do you think you are doing God a favour by giving to Him? Never! He can replace you with better givers. You are only doing yourself a favour. If you are not born again, receive Jesus today or else sin in your life will make your person unacceptable to Him.
After Cain and Abel attained physical maturity, they both made an offering to God. This exonerated their parents of any allegation of not bringing up their children to know the Lord. They must have relayed their lives before and after the fall to the duo and the fact that from their experience i.e before they were forgiven, God had to shed the blood of animals before clothing them in animal hide (Genesis 3:21). So what went wrong with the offering? Cain gave to God but his offering was not what God expected. Hebrews 9:22 says “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without the shedding of blood is no remission”. God required blood to be shed before sin could be forgiven but Cain felt God should be satisfied with whatever he gave. Any gift to God must be at God’s instance and satisfy His requirement. Any time you give something other than what God told you to, it will be unacceptable.
Moreover, Cain’s gift was taken from the earth that has been cursed. If your means of livelihood has shades of deceit, immorality, or bribery, it is accursed to God. If you are engaged in dubious business and hope to spend on the gospel from it, it will not be acceptable to God. God does not accept the tithes of whores, fornicators and sinners. God cannot be bribed even though some of His servants allow themselves to be bribed. Anything you give God must be clean. In addition, while Abel gave of the best of his cattle, Cain gave out of his convenience. Convenience giving attracts little or no reward. For your gift to attract great rewards, make it a sacrificial one. Do you think you are doing God a favour by giving to Him? Never! He can replace you with better givers. You are only doing yourself a favour. If you are not born again, receive Jesus today or else sin in your life will make your person unacceptable to Him.
MEMORIZE:
JUDGES 5:2 –Praise you the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly
offered themselves.
