The Gift or the Giver?

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"but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell." (Gen. 4:5, NASB)

   The story of Cain and Abel has been somewhat of a quandary for many. The statements I have heard have included: 
   > "Abel brought the first fruits, where Cain only brought some of his fruits"
   > "Abel brought a blood offering, but Cain brought veggies"
   > "That's just not fair that God accepted one but not the other." 
There is an answer to this situation, and the answer really has nothing to do with what offering they brought.

   Cain's offering was rejected by God, but that's not all of the story. A careful reading of the verse reveals that Cain's offering was most certainly rejected, but so was Cain himself.  The reason that Cain's offering was rejected was that Cain was rejected first. Why? Well, his response to God's rebuke gives us some insight into his heart, "So Cain became very angry". Verse eight gives us even greater insight, for that is when the Bible records that he murdered his brother in the field. In addition, Hebrews 11:4 tells us, “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous..." Whatever was going on with Cain was not faith, and it was not righteous. The Bible does not tell us precisely what happened, but it does reveal to us that his heart was not right with God.

   The most important part of the believer is the heart. No offering, no sacrifice, in fact no deed whatsoever is of any spiritual merit to God if the heart is wrong. David wrote, " The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." (Ps. 51:17, NASB) Offerings and deeds are an essential part of a life of faith, but do not neglect the most important part. 

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