Why do some people seem have more and more, while others can never seem to get ahead? Biblically it’s all about wise stewardship, which is a spiritual discipline.
We reap what we sow. Diligence and hard work leads to prosperity, while slothfulness and a slack hand lead to poverty.
Jealousy and anger often stem from looking at the prosperity of those who are diligently faithful with what they are given in life; good stewards.
Instead of being diligent, they begin to covet what the prosperous have. Instead of developing better work habits and learning the principles of stewardship, they’ll become sinful in their desire to have what their neighbor has gained; financially, materially, etc
Proverbs 29:10 NKJV
[10] The bloodthirsty hate the blameless, But the upright seek his well-being.
https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.29.10.NKJV
Genesis 4:5-8 NLT
[5] but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. [6] “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? [7] You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” [8] One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.
https://bible.com/bible/116/gen.4.5-8.NLT
I John 3:11-12 NKJV
[11] For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, [12] not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.
https://bible.com/bible/114/1jn.3.11-12.NKJV
Why was Cain’s gift not accepted, but Abel’s was?
Abel gave the first and best of his flocks to God as an offering.
Cain gave from his crops,but it wasn’t the first or best from his produce. Basically he gave what was left after the harvest; the inferior; after he had picked out the best for his own cash crop.
Numbers 18:12-13 NLT
[12] “I also give you the harvest gifts brought by the people as offerings to the Lord—the best of the olive oil, new wine, and grain. [13] All the first crops of their land that the people present to the Lord belong to you. Any member of your family who is ceremonially clean may eat this food.
https://bible.com/bible/116/num.18.12-13.NLT
Bloodthirsty:adjective. blood·thirsty ˈbləd-ˌthər-stē :
barbaric, cruel, inhuman, sanguinary, savage, slaughterous.
There was a bit of jealousy causing Cain to become angry towards his brother. Abel’s gift was received and accepted because it was done from the heart of a servant. A servant is one who says in his heart “whatever the Lord requires, that I will do” without question or hesitation.
Cain gave his second best. He wasn’t focused on serving God, but himself.
The parable of the lazy servant comes to mind here:
Matthew 25:14-30
In this parable, everyone was given a “talent” or money to invest and do their very best with. They all did so, gaining interest with what they were given, except the one who hid what he was given in the ground, instead of investing what he was given. This is stewardship 101. God wants our very best. We reap what we sow. Lazy people have nothing to offer anyone. They rarely have even enough for their own consumption and use. Diligence leads to prosperity while laziness leads one to poverty; to be lacking and in want.
I’m thinking that Cain’s jealousy may have been motivated by the fact that Abel gave his first and best of his livestock as an offering, instead of offering it to him.
Cain became “bloodthirsty” out of jealousy, anger and rage; the first motive for murder. How often does this still play out in our day?
The lazy and slothful become jealous of the diligent, hard workers.
Proverbs 10:4-6 NKJV
[4] He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. [5] He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame. [6] Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.10.4-6.NKJV
Proverbs 13:4 ESV
[4] The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.13.4.ESV
Proverbs 12:24 NKJV
[24] The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.
https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.12.24.NKJV
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