Genesis 4 Giving Your Best

In this story, Cain gave God a gift from his crops. But his brother, Abel, gave God the best of his firstborn lambs. God accepted Abel and his offering. But he did not accept Cain and his offering. This made Cain “very angry”. God warned Cain to beware of sin crouching at the door, seeking to control him. If he would only do what is right, he would be accepted and his anger would subside and sin would not gain control over him. Instead, Cain murdered Abel.

This narrative reveals the importance of giving God our best. When we give God nothing or our leftover, that reflects something in our hearts. Our offering reveals what is in our own hearts. It takes faith to give God the best of the first part of all we receive. But when we do, it does something good in our hearts and something good in our relationship with God. Give God your best first, and you will strengthen your relationship with God. And he will help you control the sins the try to control you.