The Sacrificial Giver

In the beginning of Genesis, we get a firsthand look at one of the first sibling rivalries in human history. Cain and Abel, sons of Adam and Eve. While they weren't born in perfection or raised in paradise where their parents were created, they did walk with the Lord and have direct access to Him. 

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Genesis 4:2-5

Abel gave God fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. His offering was truly a sacrifice, and that's what God was looking for. Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. It was far from a sacrifice.

We don't know exactly how God showed His favor on Abel's offering, and lack of favor on Cain's. But God's response to Cain's well-meaning (or not so well-meaning) sacrifice affected Him greatly.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 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.”

Genesis 4:6-7

God didn't leave Cain to sulk in his anger. He confronted Him with a powerful message. "Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." God saw Cain's offering as sin. And God's response to sin in Cain's life is the same as His response to sin in our own life. Temptation isn't new, and it isn't going away. But God says 'you must rule over it'.

So what is God calling you to offer Him? Sin is crouching at your door. It's a whole lot easier to sacrifice like Cain than like Abel. But God is blessed by our sacrificial giving, and hearts that desire to give Him our best. And we in turn are blessed by it as well!