The First Brothers and the First Murder

I have read the story of Cain and Abel, the first two sons of Eve, before and never really understood it.  For those who may not be familiar with it basically Cain was the keeper of the field and Abel was the keeper of the flock.  Both brought offerings to God.  God favored Abel's offering more.  Cain got jealous and killed his brother.

I never understood why God favored Abel's offering over Cain's when I read the story.  Until today.  I missed the nuance of the phrasing.  Abel's offering was from the best of his flock.  Cain's offering was from the fruit of the ground, basically leftovers.

God favored Abel's offering because it was a more complete sacrifice rather than from giving God something from his excess, like Cain did.  Jesus echoes this sentiment in Mark 12, when he says the poor widow who gave only two coins gave more then the rich men who put large amounts of money in the temple collection.  She offered from what she needed, not from the excess like the rich men did.

Today, we give the sacrifice of our heart in love and faith to God.  Like Abel, we should offer our whole heart to him, not just what is leftover after our love for secular things like football and Taylor Swift.  To not give God our whole heart is the same as giving him the fruit that fell on the ground, like Cain did.  If we put God first in our mind and heart, he will show us favor back, both in our life and when we meet Him at the final judgement.