In this daily Bible reading is the account of Adam and Eve committing the first sin in disobedience to God. They were deceived by Satan and ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God had specifically told them not to eat the fruit of that tree, but they did. God then cast them from the garden of Eden, and they were forced to work the land to acquire food.
Adam and Eve had two sons named Cain and Abel. Abel tended flocks of animals. Cain was a tiller of the ground. One day Abel brought an offering to God from his flock. His offering was from the ‘firstlings’ of his flock. It was from his ‘first fruits,’ as it were. Cain brought an offering also. But his offering was not from the best of his crop. It was not from his ‘first fruits.’
God favored Abel’s offering but God did not favor Cain’s offering. I believe that this was because Abel’s offering was a display of Faith. Cain’s was not. Giving from our first fruits is what God desires. He does not want our leftovers. For example, when we give to charity it should be from the first of our monthly income. That is real Faith, Faith that God will provide for us.
If we wait to see if we have any money left over to give to God, we will not be demonstrating true Faith. The Bible says, “Without Faith it is impossible to please God.” If we are truly faithful, God will abundantly provide for our needs.
