5-11-2016

Good Morning All!! 

        Genesis 4:5; “but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.”

    When Jimmy Carter was running for president, he told of his days in the navy.  He was writing a report for Admiral Hyman Rickover.  As he handed it in, the Admiral asked him if it was his best effort.  President Carter said there were spots that could be better.  Without looking at it, the Admiral handed it back.  This happened two more times.  Finally, when he was asked if it was his best effort, President Carter said it was and the Admiral took the report and read it.  He didn’t want to read anything except everyone’s best effort.

    The Admiral only wanted the best effort because he didn’t want to waste time.  God wants our best effort as well but for a different reason.  God is telling us that by giving him our best; we are placing God above everything else in our life.  By giving God less than our best, we are proclaiming that we have a different god and one that we place greater value in.  This is what happened to Cain.

    In the story of Cain and Abel, we read where Abel gave of his first fruits; in other words, Abel gave his best to God.  He didn’t hold anything back for he knew that all his good, all his blessings came from God.  Cain just gave an offering.  It might have been some leftovers; it might have been some of the plant that he didn’t eat or he might have thought it was “good enough.”  Whatever the case, it was not his best and God knew it was not his best.  God knew that Cain was holding back some of his trust and some of his thanks.  Perhaps Cain thought he contributed as much as God contributed.  Perhaps Cain lived as his parents Adam and Eve and saw himself as being “like God.”

    So God turned from Cain’s offering and Cain’s face fell.  His selfishness was costing him.  He found that his self-centeredness harmed not only his relationship with God but also his own contentment and happiness.  Then, instead of seeing the fault as his own, he strikes out at his brother and kills him.  So the pain is spread around; much like in our lives as well.

    God calls upon us to give our best to him not because God needs it but because we need it.  We need to always place our full and complete trust in his loving grace.  All other supports will fail, only God’s mercy will always be there to hold us.  By giving our best, our best offerings, our best talents, our best time; we honor God and receive his blessings of peace and contentment.  Living for God is our highest good; this is where we find our peace and joy.  Serve God above all; it will always lift your heart.

Father of all grace, lead me to follow you.  Lead me to see that offering my best to you gives me the greatest fulfilment.  In your service, I find my purpose.  In your loving arms, I find safety and truth.  Guard me with your mighty arm and lead me with your Spirit.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret