Passage

Genesis 4:1–7 - ESV

1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.”

2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.

3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground,

4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,

5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.

In the verses above we learn about Cain and Abel. Cain, the first born, is a farmer and Abel, the second born, is a shepherd. Both of them bring God an offering from what each of them produce.

In verse 4 we see that the Lord was pleased with Abels offering while in verse 5 Cains offering is rejected. My first indication as to why the Lord rejected Cains offering was the different description of the two offerings. Cain brought “an offering of the fruit of the ground”, which from that description was likely not the best of his produce. On the other hand Abel “brought the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions” meaning Abel brought the best he had to offer.

Proverbs 3:9 - ESV

9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce;

As Christians we are encouraged to bring the “first” fruits of our produce. We call the first fruits tithe because it is the first 10% of our produce. The word tithe means 10%. Our tithe, our first 10%, that we offer back to God shows he is the priority in our finances or “produce”. In Cain and Abels case, Abel brought the first fruit while Cain simply brought some of his produce.

This is reinforced in Hebrews 11:4.

Hebrews 11:4 - ESV

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

The Narrow Way

God does not need our money or our produce. As the creator of the world everything is his anyway. God wants us to show that we are submitted to him with our finances. He wants to see that he comes first.

When you are tithing remind your self:

• Tithe the FIRST of your produce

• Tithe to show God you are submitted to him

• Tithe out of love for him