GIVE GOD YOUR VERY BEST

PROCLAMATION

“In the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto The Lord.  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.  And The Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering; But unto Cain and his offering He had not respect.  And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”  Genesis 4:3-5 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this fourth chapter of Genesis, Moses presents the sons of Adam and Eve.  Cain, the oldest, grew up to be a worker of the soil, and Abel grew up to be a keeper of the flocks. (Genesis 4:1-2)  In the course of time, Cain brought of some of the fruits which he had produced as an offering to The Lord.  Abel, however, brought the best from the firstborn of his flock as an offering to The Lord.  The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but He did not look upon Cain and his offering with favor. (Genesis 4:3-5 and Hebrews 11:4)  Cain did not give The Lord God the best of his produce.  God told him that if he had done that which was right, and given of his best, he and his offering would have been accepted. (Genesis 4:6-7)  Cain was very upset at God’s rejection of his offering. (Genesis 4:5)  Afterwards, while they were in the field, Cain attacked and killed his brother Abel. (Genesis 4:8)  Later on, God asked Cain, “Where is Abel thy brother?”  Cain replied, “I know not; Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9)  The blood of Abel cried out to The Lord God from the ground, and He cursed Cain then drove him out of the land.  God put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. (Genesis 4:10-16)  Adam and Eve then had another son, Seth.

 

APPLICATION

When we give to The Lord God, we should give Him the very best of whatever it is that we have to offer.  We are to give to Him from the first fruits of all of our increases. (Proverbs 3:9)  He deserves the first portion of the very best that we have, and not some small part of that which is left over after we give to ourselves and to others.  We need to put God first in everything, including the giving of our time, our talent, and our treasures. (Matthew 6:33)