🔵 By Bobby Singleton. Photo by lauragrafie.
Main Idea: God will not accept offerings from a resentful heart, but He will from a rich and radiant heart.
Introduction: Think back to when you remembered, at the last minute, someone special had a birthday or anniversary. Which prompted you to hastily stop at the closet store and grab something off the shelf with no real thought. Contrast this to when you laboriously and meticulously spent hours shopping store to store, or website to website, in an attempt to find that perfect gift. Now bring to your mind’s eye the recipient’s reaction in both of these instances. Surely the images are not equal, which of these deeds brought forth the desired response?
God will not accept offerings from a resentful heart (vv.1.3).
Looking at Genesis 3:21 brings out the idea of making an offering to God. After Adam and Eve sinned, and God sacrificed the animal on their behalf, a reverence for God’s goodness was established. Following his father’s footsteps Cain worked the ground (v.2; cf, 1:28; 2:15). When it was tie to honor God, Cain had a resentful heart, which sprouted his dirty deeds.
Giving away leftovers is no real sacrifice on a person’s part. The adage, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” does not apply. In prison, or the world, true hospitality places the guest first. The guest is God in text’s context. When offering scraps people think, “You just want me to wash the dirty dishes!” and the offer is refused. Eating your fill, and then offering scraps is flat out disrespectful. Such a dirty deed shows concern for oneself above others.
God will accept offerings from a rich heart (v.4).
When the message was given to Abel, he took heed. Abel was the wise one, who learned from his parents mistake of disobeying God. Not only did Abel offer God the first of his flock, but the best part their “fat portions” (v.4). Abel understood that everything stems from God (1:11, 20-11, 24-26, 31). When Abel brought forth God’s portion, before taking his own, his deed showed fully trusting in God’s provisions (Lam 3:24). The artistically crafted untouched offering, from a rich heart, was accepted. Abel trusted in the fact that after God’s portion was given, there would still be plenty left for him. The explicit point, respectfully put others first.
God will accept offerings from a radiant heart (vv.5-7).
The conscious convicts people of misdeeds, in both thought and action, mirroring God questioning Cain’s heart (Heb 4:12; cf. Gen 4:6). Despite God’s warning, Cain attempted to cover his shame, rather than correct course, of confess. By killing his brother Abel (v.8), Cain mirrored his parents feeble attempt to cover their misdeed with “fig leaves” (3:7). We all have a similar choice to make, follow God or self. Once the realization is made concerning a dirty deed, what will be the response? Will resentment occur, or the heart soften, turning rich and radiant?
Application: We know that regardless of our best intentions that we will fall short a times in life. So when mistakes are made, commitments are broken, whatever the case may be, admit to it and seek forgiveness. Don’t try to hide your shame with justification, or even more heinous acts, definitely do not dismiss God’s word. As Hebrews expresses the world is a “double edges sword” to convict us (Heb. 4:12), and point us back towards God’s truth (Gal 2:20, cf. John 14:6.)
Whenever something is done for another do not use it as leverage on a later date. Scripture tells us that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7). Scripture warns against committing such deceitful acts (Acts 5:4; cf. Matt 7:22-23; 31-46). When a vow is made, sacrifices are offered, or gift giving to so from the heart without any ulterior motives. After all God gave His Son, freely, -dirt cheap- to save us with no requirement other than acceptance (John 3:16-17).
For a man’s ways are before the Lord’s eyes, and He considers all his paths.
As a kid my cousin April and I would hear our grandma playing Christmas music on Saturday mornings as she was cleaning. We both knew that was a sign she was in a good mood. We would prompt the other to go tell Nanny we needed this or that could we go to the mall, obviously the other of us would have a dire need as well. Nanny would agree, with the stipulation we had to go to Goodwill with her first so she could buy some books to read. We would grudgingly go to the store with her. When we got to the Goodwill parking lot April and I would make sure the coast was clear before we made a mad dash to the store so none of our friends would see us if they happened to be passing by. We would repeat this mad dash when going back to the car. When we got older our Nanny informed us that was her little game she played with us because although we thought we were slick she knew the drill. So if our earthly parents can tell what we are up to how much more to you think God knows your intentions?