Genesis 4:6-7 (NIV)
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 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 rule over it.”
Philadelphia is called the city of brotherly love because it comes from the Greek words philo and adelphos which mean love and brother. William Penn named the city he founded as capital of Pennsylvania in 1682. You would think Brotherly Love would involve love, kindness and so on. That is not what we see today. Cain and Abel did not show us a great example. Perhaps God wanted to show us what NOT to do.
There are many bad examples in the Bible. This is just another of them. Why did Cain kill Abel? What was his motive? What does God mean “sin is crouching at your door….?” What does sin have to do with murder? And that is what it was; it was murder!
In the story in Chapter 4 of Genesis, we are told about the work of each and the attitude of each. Cain worked the soil and Abel kept flocks. Each brought some of their “first-fruits” as an offering to God. Cain brought some of his fruits. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. What was their attitude toward God? “But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door;” In this story, what do you think was right? Are you doing what is right? Are you giving God your best? It seems as Cain was jealous of Abel but why? Could not Cain have brought God His best too? It would have been fruit to livestock; not apples to apples. But each could have brought their best; their A game. Cain did not! And because he looked bad by his own choice, he released his anger and disappointment on Abel.
James 1:15 (NIV) says 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. The Lord looks to each of us to offer to Him our best. He is not going to compare the value of each item as much as the quality and, more importantly, the attitude through which it was given. Some siblings hate each other because their parents always compare them. Are you giving God your best? Are you a joyful giver? Do you give in faith? God sees your heart. Are you doing things just so you can check them off your list? He knows! Will you do what is right? You can find out what is right from God’s Word. Let’s walk through His Word together and help each other do what is right. Let us be joyful givers.
Lord God, help us to do what is right. By Your Spirit, guide us in Your ways so that we walk them. Give us strength to rule over sin. As it says in Psalm 119:11, help us to hide Your word in our hearts so that we might not sin against You. Remove jealousy from us so that we may love as You love. Let us live together in peace. In Your name we pray!