Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve’s first two children, grew up and took on responsibilities.
Cain was a tiller of the ground and Abel a keeper of flocks.  (See Genesis 4:2)

(NASB) Genesis 4:3-4 “So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground.
4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions…”

Speculations I have heard concerning Cain and his offering for which the LORD God had no respect or regard (See Genesis 4:5).

1-     Cain did not bring the first fruits, the best of the fruit of the ground – perhaps he ‘made do’ with a lesser quality of grains.

2-     The LORD God had clearly shown what pleased Him – a sacrificial offering (many believe that the sacrificial system was instituted by God when He made coverings of skin for Adam and Eve after their sin).

What is a possibility?  Cain could have bartered with Abel for an animal to sacrifice.

When you give an offering to the LORD – do you give Him what pleases you or what He has said pleases Him?  Offerings can come from many areas of our lives: monies first come to mind, and then there is your time, and your abilities, and what about your life?  Are your offerings given to God from your very best or from what is left-over?

The following are two examples from Scripture:

(NASB) Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

(NASB) Romans 12:1-2 “THEREFORE I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

 

How does your offering to God compare to Cain’s?