Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!” Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him. Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.” Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear! You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!” The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him. So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Genesis 4:1-16

Dear God, I saw the name of a Christian song the other day called “Able.” Even though it was spelled differently than the Abel of the Old Testament, it made me think of this story.

Corruption starts with the smallest of sins. I heard a presentation last Thursday on ethics that talked about the path to immorality starting very small. In this case, Cain didn’t want to give up the best of his crop. Part of his heart wanted to hold on to it. Eat it for himself. Now that I look at it, it’s a little like his parents wanting to eat the good fruit. Selfishness is so seductive.

My wife and I give, and we try to give generously, but are there parts of my life that I still want to embrace instead of letting them go? Are some of my material possessions getting in the way of generosity you want me to have? Do I still hold on to little sins that pull my heart away from you?

Father, I offer all of this to you. Help me to work out my faith through the guidance of your Holy Spirit. Reveal to me the things I allow in my life that keep me from being yours. Be glorified through me.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen