GENESIS 4:1-7
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
TEN POINTS TO PONDER
The lord of your life (whatever you are devoted to) will determine the direction (and the destination) of your life.
Many people have God on their list of important things, but He rarely makes it to the top of the list. How would your life change if God was always at the top of your list?
The lord of your life might be reflected by who or what gets your best energy rather than your leftover energy, or by who or what you turn to when you need comfort, security, or significance. Ask yourself, “When two priorities collide, which one consistently wins?” That might be the lord of your life.
For Cain and Abel, the issue wasn’t the substance of their offerings; it was the symbolism of their offerings. Abel’s offering of his first and best represented a heart that trusted God. Cain’s offering of leftovers represented a heart that trusted himself.
Do you view God’s provision as limited or limitless? Does thinking about money lead to gratitude (because you have enough) or grumbling (because you want more)?
Generosity can be much more than just giving money away. It might be as simple as paying a compliment to someone, going out of your way to help someone, or just offering a smile.
God is not a charity case. He doesn’t need your leftovers. He wants your first and best because He knows it’s good for you to give your first and best. When you are sacrificially generous, your faith and trust in God will grow.
The evil beast of greed and covetousness lives within all of us, and the more we feed it (with complaining and comparing), the more it will grow.
From the very beginning, the battle for control has caused disasters. The serpent manipulated and controlled Eve and Adam. They ate the fruit because they wanted more control than God. After sin, they fought to control one another. In Genesis 4, Cain is being controlled by his emotions… We all must fight the battle of control. Self-control is good. Spirit-control is even better.
If you truly believe in eternity, your life now will be an investment in forever. Are your time, energy, and financial investments designed to pay off on this side or the other side of death?
GENEROSITY
We live in a world that works best when GENEROSITY is the engine driving things:
- God’s creation was GENEROUS. Instead of just creating a functional, mechanical world; He gave us an amazingly creative, colorful, complex yet simple world. The variety and beauty of creation is a constant reminder of God’s GENEROSITY.
- The most beloved characters in the history of the world are those who were viewed as GENEROUS by their contemporaries.
- The hero of every story is the one who GIVES AWAY for the good of others.
- The best meal is one that is prepared by a GENEROUS chef (have you ever eaten at a “fancy” restaurant that provides great food, but you only get two bites?)
- The single greatest act of all time was the GENEROUS gift of life, given to us by God through His Son, Jesus.
GENEROSITY makes the world go ‘round. Selfishness and hoarding bring things to a screeching halt. What you are willing to give away today may go a long way toward enabling someone else to continue into tomorrow! GIVE GENEROUSLY!
Click on the image to download the DiscipleQuest PDF
The DiscipleQuest PDF includes 7 days of verse study prompts. You can use these seven studies to dig deeper into what the Bible teaches about generosity:
- Proverbs 11:24-25
- Psalm 112:5
- Matthew 6:19-21
- Acts 20:35
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
- Hebrews 13:16
- 1 John 3:17-18
Use these questions as journal prompts or as conversation starters with a group of friends or a Bible study group:
When have you had fun giving someone else a gift? What did you give them? Why was it fun? How did they respond?
When have you given someone a bad gift? What made it bad? How did you feel afterward?
What kind of gifts do we give to God? Does He want or need our gifts? Why?
Read Genesis 4:1-5.
Why do you think Cain and Abel were offering these gifts?
Both Cain and Abel were offering the results of their own labor as gifts to God. Read the verses closely and discuss how their offerings were different. (What are the precise words used to describe each offering?)
Why do you think God accepted Abel’s offering but not Cain’s?
Throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly instructed people that they should sacrifice the first and the best of their crops and flocks. Why do you think He wanted them to give up their first and best? How does that kind of offering point to Jesus?
How can someone offer the first and best of their time? How can they offer the first and best of their emotions and/or energy? How can they offer the first and best of their money or resources?
Why is it sometimes difficult to offer our first and best to God?
Make a list of all the things in our lives we can offer to God. How would it look to offer the “first and best” of our lives to Him? Would this be easy or difficult? Why?
What are one or two first and best things you can offer this week? How can this offering help you become more Christlike, generous, or inviting?
How can the group pray for you and help you?
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