Pastor Scott Snowden

In the Beginning…

#2.  Cain-  Life Without Room For God.

So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence
 and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Genesis 4:16

   We’ve all heard of Cain and Abel. An older brother kills his younger brother in a fit of jealousy. But do we know why the anger and envy were so intense? Do we think about the fallout, personal and spiritual, from that tragedy? Do we too readily identify with the victim, rather than with the transgressor? What might we learn about ourselves if we look a bit closer at this story? Will we like what we see?

1. Does my _DEVOTIONAL_LIFE_ indicate that I am “away” from God?

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.
In the course of time
 Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.
But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.
The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
 but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favor.
Genesis 4:2-5

a. Both Cain and Abel naturally  _ACKNOWLEDGED_ God’s hand of blessing in their lives.

In the course of time…

b. Cain’s offering was unacceptable because it was not a reflection of his  _VERY_BEST_.

Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.
But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.

c. Does God get my very best offering of worship, fellowship, discipleship and service?

2. Do my “_PEOPLE_SKILLS_” demonstrate that I am “away” from God?

a. Cain didn’t think he  _OWED_ANYBODY_ANYTHING_ .

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Genesis 4:9

b. Yet he had the expectation that other people  _TREAT_HIM_WELL_.

But the Lord said to him (Cain),
 “Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over.”
Then the Lord put a mark on Cain
 so that no one who found him would kill him.
Genesis 4:15

c. Do I value people and treat them with respect?

3. Does my _ATTACHMENT_TO_THIS_LIFE_ reveal that I am “away” from God?

Cain lay with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch.
Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch.
…Adah gave birth to Jabal;
 he was the father of all who live in tents and raise livestock.
His brother’s name was Jubal;
 he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.
Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain,
 who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron.
Genesis 4:17, 20-22

a. Am I trying to live forever through my  _CHILDREN_ ?

b. Am I engaging in Business and Industry  _UNETHICALLY_ ?

c. Am I drawn to the Arts because I appreciate the beauty of God’s Creation, or because of the  “_STATEMENT_”  the artist has to make?

d. Am I amazed at what Technology and Science  _CAN_ do, without a thought of what it _OUGHT_TO_ do?

 

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