Cain and Abel: Which one are you?

Genesis 4 tells us the story of Cain and Abel. It's a very sad story. It's a story of selfishness, of laziness, of an evil heart and what happens when that evil is allowed to move us to action.

But it's also a story of true worship.

The story in a nutshell is this: Cain, the older brother, worked the soil. He was the farmer. Abel tended sheep. "In the course of time" each brother brought offerings to God. But there was a difference in their offerings. While Abel brought the best portions from the firstborn of his flock, Cain simply brought "some" of his fruits of the soil.

Was God pleased with each of them?

Look in Gen. 4:4 for the answer.

"The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor."

Folks, God doesn't want our scraps. He doesn't want just "some" of your time and devotion and love. He wants the best you have to give him. He wants to look upon us with favor.

Look what God tells Cain in 4:7:

"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

Man, do you hear the wisdom in those simple words?!

DO. WHAT. IS. RIGHT!

It's as simple as that, folks! Do what is right and find favor with God. If you don't, sin is waiting to take over your life. I have absolutely found that to be true in my own life. I would imagine that you have too. Look at your life right now. Are you giving God your best or your scraps? Trust me when I say I'm looking at my life too!

But Cain didn't listen to those wise words, just like a lot of folks today don't listen to God. As a result of Cain's sinful heart, he murdered his brother and tried to hide it from God. His family line was cursed. If you keep reading in Genesis you'll see that Cain's offspring were so sinful and evil that God wiped them out in the flood.

Cain or Abel.

One found favor with God. One was cursed.

Which one are you?

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Tomorrow I'll be taking a break from my regular blog topics to post a blog that will be part of the ACFW Conference Blog Tour. For more information on the tour and the upcoming conference in Denver, visit the ACFW website.