“Do You Give Like Cain or Abel?”

First Fruits

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.

Genesis 4:3-5a

Adam and Eve’s first two sons were Cain and Abel. Cain farmed, Abel tended flocks. Each brother gave an offering, but God only accepted one of the gifts.

Why?

One brother gave God the very best, off the top.

The other did not.

Off the Top

“In the course of time” (v.3) means Cain brought the offering whenever he felt like it. He made his offering on his terms, on his timetable, whenever it suited him. Cain did not bring God the first bushel of apples picked from his orchard.

In contrast, Abel brought God the firstborn of his flock (v.4). He didn’t wait to see how many other lambs would be born to that sheep. 

Very Best

When Cain finally took some of his harvest to God, he gave “an” offering (v.3). Not the choicest apples that would be bought first at a farmers’ market. Cain brought God “an” offering--ordinary, nothing extra.

I can see him keeping the apples that won a blue ribbon at the fair to make a pie for himself.

In contrast, Abel brought God fat portions from the firstborn of his flock (v.4). If he sacrificed a cow instead of a sheep, he gave filet mignon to the Lord and kept the hamburger steak for himself.

         

The Verdict

God looked on Abel’s offering with favor and on Cain’s offering with disfavor. God had no regard for Cain’s average fruit that was slow in coming. God had high regard for Abel’s fat portions from the firstborn of his flock.

Thanksgiving is a good time for us to reflect on our attitude toward giving. Cain and Abel each gave God an offering. But only one gift received God’s favor.

What would you add to this conversation?

David