 Tuesday: Honoring God in Our Way
Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. . .
. But unto Cain and to his offering God had not respect.
Genesis 4:3b, 5a
Cain brought an offering to God, but God didn't have respect for Cain or
the offering. Yesterday we considered Abel and his offering. God had respect
for them. What was the difference? The scripture doesn't say directly. We
know that Abel gave from the first and best of his flock. There is no mention
of this with Cain. Maybe Cain was taking his own share first. Maybe he was
keeping the best part for himself. He was honoring God, but he was doing
it in his own way and on his own terms.
A few thousand years later, Jesus was in Jerusalem. People brought money
and offered it to God. Many people gave lavish gifts, and a widow gave two
copper coins. Jesus saw her and told the disciples that the woman had given
more than the others. What was the difference? Jesus must have seen the confusion
on his disciples' faces. He explained that the widow gave all she had; the
other people had plenty, and only gave some of their left over money. They
honored God, but only on their own terms, and only after they had provided
for themselves.
Today we go to church. We put cash into the offering plate. Are we like Cain
or Abel? Are we like the rich people or the widow? Are we honoring God in
God's way by placing Him first, or are we honoring God in our own way, simply
giving Him a portion of our surplus after caring for ourselves?
On our pilgrimage, we are seeking to encounter God. We cannot do this unless
we place Him first. We must honor Him in His way. If we only honor God on
our own terms, we place Him in a secondary role. That is not the way that
we are called. That is not the path to follow. Put God first.
Gracious God and creator of all, your very name is holy and pure. You
are alpha and omega, the first and the last. Show me your way, for your way
is the only way. Let me walk in your path, see through your eyes, and hear
through your ears. Let me honor you in all that I do. Let me honor you on
your terms, Lord, let me honor you in your way. Amen.
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