Heart of Giving

[Servant Boy]

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Genesis 4:1 Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she
conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a
manchild with the help of the LORD.” Again, she gave birth to his
brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller
of the ground. So it came about in the course of time that Cain
brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on
his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat
portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but
for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very
angry and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are
you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? “If you do well, will
not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is
crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master
it.” Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in
the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

After reading about the fall of man previously we move on to the lives
of the children of Adam and Eve. This is again a story familiar to
most people because it highlights an error on God's part or so it
seems.

Why was God biased towards Abel over Cain when both of them brought
their first fruits as an offering to Him? What does God want to teach
us today?

God seriously punished Adam and Eve for their terrible choice and this
punishment has become a life principle for us today. We toil to make a
living and women suffer severe pain during childbirth.

After God moved them out of the garden of Eden, they conceived and had
two sons and Eve's heart was revealed when she praised God for this
provision. We are reminded in Psalm 127:3 'Behold, children are a gift
of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward'. Therefore Eve
certainly thanked God for these sons as a gift from Him to them.

These sons grew and during harvest time, brought their first produce
to give to God. Cain's gift was the first fruits and produce because
he was a farmer and Abel's was the firstlings of his flock because he
was a shepherd. Both gifts were the first fruits but God was pleased
with Abel and not with Cain.

The reason for this is the attitude of Cain's heart which later
manifested in Him killing his own brother to quench his anger with
God. God loves a cheerful giver and hates those who mock him with
their bribes.

Abel gave out of his sincere gratitude for what God had blessed him
with but Cain gave because he had to give. Here's what Jesus said when
he saw a poor widow come and put in only two small copper coins versus
the rich who were putting in large sums into the treasury: (Mark
12:43-44) Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say
to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the
treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of
her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on."

As you can see, God values the gifts that we give from our heart and
therefore today we are reminded that whatever we give to God, whether
it be our time, resources, attention, love, etc., that we give it with
our entire heart for our God loves a cheerful giver. Lets not do
anything because we have to and make our relationship with God about
works but lets do it because we love to and honor God with our lives.

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than
Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous,
God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead,
he still speaks.

If you would like to know about Jesus, then please visit
http://www.tipritv.com/steps-to-peace/