A Heart for Giving

Recieving

There is an old that goes like this “it is better to give than to receive”, have you ever said this - most likely you said it to your children;

How often we act on this statement by giving the joy of Christ to someone;

Here in v. 1 and 2 we see the opposite take place look how excited Eve was to receive something from God;

How do we know she was excited - look at how the event of Cain’s birth is described from conception to birth;

Some theologians feel that Eve was convinced that she had given birth to the promised Child of God;

But look at how the second birth is described, it is almost like an after thought - oh yeah here the other kid;

Have you ever been unimpressed by a gift from someone - I have been it was February 15, 1986 when I recieved a tie as a wedding gift - not really impressed;

That gift was not from a heart for giving but an obligation to give;

Do you give to God from your heart or obligation.

Reasoning

Next we have two brothers bringing offerings to the Lord - to the alter of the Lord;

This most have been something taught to them by their father Adam - which reveals Adams desire to serve God and share this desire with his family;

Notice that God respected one offering but not the other, why;

It appears to be a heart condition that was attached to the offering;

Cain - look at verse 3 - “...that Cain brought [an offering of the fruit]...”

The New King James Version. (1982). (Ge 4:3). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Abel - look at verse 4 - “...Abel also brought of [the firstborn of his flock]...”

The New King James Version. (1982). (Ge 4:4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

When we look at the two offerings - Cain and Able - there appears to be different reasonings behind the giving;

What are your reasonings for giving, serving or even sharing God’s word,

Do you even feel His presence in your giving?

After attending church with his father one Sunday morning, before getting into bed that evening a little boy kneeled at his bedside and prayed, “Dear God, we had a good time at church today, but I wish you had been there.”

Green, M. P. (Ed.). (1989). Illustrations for Biblical Preaching: Over 1500 sermon illustrations arranged by topic and indexed exhaustively (Revised edition of: The expositor’s illustration file). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

Response

Notice Cain’s reaction to God’s disapproval of his offering - he got very angry;

Remember the why of God’s disapproval of Cain’s offering - Cain’s heart was not in it;

God looks beyond our giving - He looks to see if we are looking to receive, He looks at our reasoning, and yes He even looks at our response to giving;

But Cain became so overwhelmed with anger that he placed it all on his brother Abel;

Instead of looking inside Cain wanted to remove the cause of his anger, Abel;

Notice Cain’s answer to God’s question - it is similar to his father’s question about eating the fruit;

Finally notice there is no mention of Abel saying anything throughout this event until after his death where his blood cried out to God.