FBC Okelerin

03 Nov, 2019 By: Victor O. Oyelowo

FIRST AND FAT Genesis 4:1-5

‘Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the LORD” Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought the firstborn of his flock and of their fat.  And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.’ (Genesis 4:1-5)

 

Preamble
Permit me to congratulate everyone here on the occasion of 2019 Adult Harvest Thanksgiving. Across the globe, this is an occasion that Baptists have set aside to acknowledge and appreciate the God of harvest who blesses us with appropriate increase in our various endeavors. While farmers traditionally do give their farm produce to God, non-farmers are known to monetize their harvest. Thus, Adult Harvest Thanksgiving is more of a personal matter than collective.

X-Ray of Genesis 4:1-5

The first Harvest Thanksgiving recorded in the Bible is found in this text. We stand to gain correct perspective about how to go about correct harvest thanksgiving from this text. Adam and Eve were blessed with two sons: Cain and Abel. Cain was a plant farmer while Abel was an animal farmer. After a while, both of them decided to do harvest thanksgiving to the Lord who prospers them.

In the text, we can see Cain present ‘an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD’ (v 3b).  Abel on the other hand, brought ‘of the first born of his flock and of their fat’ (v 4a). The difference between the two harvest offerings is very clear. Cain presented to God an ordinary offering while Abel offered from among the first and the fat. The difference is clear.  So, God responded differently as well.  It’s not really the figure that matters but the fraction and the family of what is offered to God.

For presenting from the first and the fat, God respected Abel and his offering. That is, God began to admire Abel. The young man became special among men before Him. God began to esteem him. Abel became a reference point, a delight, and a wonder of God. So, also his offerings. Abel had an excellent rating before God. Abel offered the best of his best to God. No wonder, even after his brother killed him, God defended Abel.

If we really want to do correct Harvest Thanksgiving; we must have to give from among the best God has given us. All of us should set aside a certain percentage of our regular income. Harvest Thanksgiving is a time we can raise millions as harvest offering. Remember that your 2019 harvest offering is the seed for 2020 harvest.

 

Conclusion
It’s not enough to just give. We must give in line with biblical principles. There are laid down principles for everything in Christendom. No shortcuts.