It's All In the Attitude

When I first became a Christian, I had a lot of trouble understanding why God rejected Cain's sacrifice, but accepted Abel's. After all, they had both given up a portion of the fruits of their labors to God. Did this mean that God was playing favorites? Was Abel a harder worker or better looking? Does God like meat better than grain? It really confused me.

But look closely at what the passage says... Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil. Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The whole thing boiled down to attitude... what was in the hearts of Cain and Abel when they made their sacrifices. Cain was obeying God's law. He was making a sacrifice. begrudgingly making a sacrifice. He gathered up a little wheat, a little barley, and a few apples and dumped them on the altar. He'd done what he'd been told, right? He'd obeyed God, right? He'd tossed a twenty dollar bill in the collection plate when it went past him, right? He'd shown up for church every week, right? He'd been a good man, following the law to the letter, right?

Now look at Abel. Abel brought God his best. the very finest portion of the fatty meat from the firstborn of his flock. That was the good stuff, the part that his kids fought over at the dinner table. Abel, too, followed the law. but his attitude was different. Abel knew that everything in the world, including his flocks, belonged to God. He was so grateful to God for allowing him to have use of those flocks, that he gave God the most desirable portion in a sacrifice of gratitude and thanksgiving.

When you and I make sacrifices to God, whether it's money or possessions or time or talents, it's the attitude of those sacrifices that makes the difference. If we do things because we think we're supposed to. or out of fear. or out of a feeling of obligation. or because we figure that's what will gain us God's favor. we're doing everything for the wrong reasons. But if we give what we give out of love for Jesus, then the attitude of our sacrifice is the same as Abel's. That's the kind of sacrifice God wants.

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Peace Like a River

Have you ever just sat down on the bank of a river or stream and noticed how things flow along? The water seems to be propelled by a silent and unknown power. and as it approaches different obstacles, it quickly finds a way around and continues on its way. I believe God intended for our lives to be like a flowing stream, but unfortunately, when you add in the human factor, instead of finding the way around the obstacles the way the water does, we hit a solid wall and stop. Because we're unable to see a way around, we begin to experience stress and worry. Even though it's obvious that we can't pass through this obstacle, we still stand there trying to figure a way through. and becoming more and more frustrated.

I shared with you before the wonderful peace that God gave me the day I had my heart attack. and that peace has continued. I find it so much easier now to deal with the things that I have to, and as I come up against different obstacles, I immediately start to look for the way that God has made for me to go around. I had my first real test this week. I thought I had prepared as best I could for catastrophes that might come along in mine and Bonnie's life, and I thought I had enough insurance to handle these things. But, even though I was somewhat prepared, it wasn't enough. This week, the bills from the hospital and the doctors and the clinics and the technicians and the helicopter all came rolling in. and even though my part was small in comparison to what the insurance had paid, when I got through adding it all up, I found that I was about $4,000 in debt to these folks. Had this happened a few months ago, it would have probably triggered another heart attack. but as I looked at the unpaid portions and added it up, it really was a small amount to pay compared to what my life is worth to me, and hopefully, a few other folks. As I sit here right now, I don't know the way these things will be handled. What I do know is that God has already got a plan for it. He's already provided what I need and will deliver it when I need it.

I've gone through all of this to try to help you understand what God has shown me through this experience. He did not design our bodies to deal with worry or with stress. The only way they become a factor in our lives is when we doubt God's promises. Satan is the father of all lies, and I would suggest to you, he's also the father of all our doubts. It is only when he is able to make us doubt God's word that we experience the worry and stress of this world.

I hope you will think about this as you go through your daily life, and remember that the faithfulness of God is great enough to wipe away all of man's doubt.

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