1 John 3:11 – 15 “This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous. So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.”
Many of us have heard of the story of Cain and Abel. But why was Cain so angry with his brother? The story is told in Genesis 4. Cain was raising crops while Abel was a shepherd. But when the time came for them to bring offerings to God, Cain brought “some of the fruit of the soil,” while Abel brought “the best portions of the first born of his flock.” There’s no record of God having given any particular command regarding offerings; however, God “had no regard for Cain and his offering.” God knew exactly what Cain had been raising, and God could reasonably expect that Cain would select the very best portions of his crops to bring as an offering. The problem lay with Cain. Cain didn’t respect God and probably showed up with left – overs after having enjoyed the fruits of his labors himself. Abel, on the other hand, took the very best of the first – born as an offering.
What makes the difference? When you offer the best of the first fruits, you are stating by your actions that you are trusting that God will give you more. Such an offering is risky, because there is always the chance that you are giving up everything you might have gained. Offering the best of your first fruits is one way of giving God the highest honor you can and also demonstrating love for Him. Abel honored God; Cain did not. And God somehow let Cain know that He knew what Cain was up to.
Cain had a choice; he could have humbled himself immediately and asked God for guidance. God would certainly have directed Cain as to how to proceed and all would have been well. Cain was the first – born son and therefore was the first fruits of his parents. Perhaps Adam and Eve had dedicated Cain to God; we cannot know. But there is no evidence that Cain ever loved Abel. If Abel had a tender heart toward God, it is likely that he also was a loving son to his parents. Cain, it seems, was in love with himself and nobody else.Cain’s first sin was not murder. Cain’s first sin was lack of love for his brother Abel. This attitude was demonstrated when God asked Cain where Abel was and Cain replied, “I do not know! Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Cain in his arrogance and his pride failed to honor God as his Creator.Cain’s second sin was a lack of respect for God and arrogance that whatever he, Cain, offered, God should be happy with it. Thousands of years later, Paul wrote in Galatians 6:7 – 8 “Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
None of us can force God to play by our rules; God is sovereign and we are human. When we refuse to acknowledge those facts, we are copying Cain. When God refused to play by Cain’s rules, Cain committed his third sin. Cain killed his brother out of jealousy and spite and then tried to cover up the murder.
Hatred and unforgiveness bring spiritual death. It is recorded that “Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.” How horrible! For the rest of his days, Cain was cut off from the God who created him and who loved him.
The story of Cain and Abel is the story of two hearts: Abel had a heart to love God and to honor Him, and Cain was living only for himself. John points out that anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, whether or not he actually goes through with the deed. Darkness and light cannot coexist; either your heart will be filled with light or it will be filled with darkness. Today, let us ask God to help us search our hearts. What happened to Cain can equally happen to any of us if we are not careful.
PRAYER: Father God, open our eyes to see the sin that is in our own hearts. Help us to confess that sin to you so that you can clean our hearts and fill them with your love. Help us always to honor you in everything that we say and do. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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