Cain and Abel: Resources Indicate Relationships
In the modern world, we are conditioned to view money as a private, neutral asset—a tool for personal security or a means to acquire comfort. However, when we look at the biblical narrative, we see that resources are anything but neutral. From the very beginning of the human story, money and resources have acted as powerful indicators of our heart’s condition and our relationship with the Creator. As we begin our new series, Life on Mission: Give Generosity, we must confront the uncomfortable but liberating truth that our bank statements tell a story about who—or what—we truly trust. This series begins by examining the foundational story of Cain and Abel.
Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
The Story of Cain and Abel: A Lesson in Heart Posture
The story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 is often framed as a tale of sibling rivalry, but at its core, it is a story about heart posture. Both men brought offerings to the Lord, yet the outcome was starkly different: God looked with favor on Abel’s offering, but not on Cain’s. God was not rejecting the offering because He was “hungry” or because He needed their livestock; God does not require our resources. Rather, the difference was found in the posture of the giver. Abel brought the fat portions of the firstborn—the very best of what he had—whereas Cain simply brought some of the fruits of the soil.
This disparity reveals the central principle of this series: resources indicate relationships. Just as we intuitively understand that a husband buying an extravagant gift for someone other than his wife is a “red flag,” we understand that our spending reveals our loyalties. Jesus summarized this thousands of years later in Matthew 6: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. When we give, we are not paying a bill; we are demonstrating where our heart is anchored.
The Scarcity Trap vs. The Abundance Perspective
Why does this matter? Because the way we handle resources dictates how we view our neighbors. Cain’s reaction to God’s favor on Abel was not to repent, but to view Abel as a competitor. This is the “scarcity perspective”—the belief that God’s favor, or the world’s resources, are limited, and that for me to win, you must lose. This mindset has driven human conflict since the dawn of time, turning families into tribes and tribes into warring parties.
The antidote to this competitive, fearful way of life is the “abundance perspective”. This is the belief that God is the ultimate provider. If God is the source of every good and perfect gift, then I do not need to hoard, nor do I need to view my neighbor as an obstacle to my success. When we embrace God as the provider, we are freed from the shackles of materialism and the anxiety of competition.
The Practice of Freedom
This is why God instituted the tithe. Tithing is not a tax imposed by the church; it is a spiritual practice designed to unhitch our hearts from the idol of self-sufficiency. Giving the first 10% of our resources away forces us to acknowledge that God owns everything, and it acts as an exercise in trust. It reminds us that we are not the primary owners of our wealth; we are stewards of God’s abundance.
Giving generously is not just about funding the church’s budget; it is about babies being saved, lives being changed, and the gospel being planted in new communities. It is a way to break the chains of dependency on material things. If you find yourself skeptical of the church’s request for giving, we encourage you to practice generosity elsewhere—at a food bank, a women’s center, or another local ministry. The goal is not “new life” gaining funds; the goal is for you to experience the freedom of a heart that is no longer enslaved to the scarcity mindset. We invite you to join us on this four-week journey as we learn to live Life on Mission by practicing the radical, transformative skill of generosity, moving past the lessons learned from Cain and Abel.
Take you Next Step
We believe that God has called us to saturate Gillette with the gospel, a mission that requires resources, but more importantly, requires us to align our hearts with His abundance. We invite you to take the next step in your spiritual journey by beginning to practice consistent, generous giving at New Life. Whether you are ready to start tithing or are taking your first step toward regular giving, your contribution helps fuel our mission to reach our community for Christ. You can set up your giving today through our website and join us in trusting God as our provider.
Did you like the message, Cain and Able? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.