Choices and Their Effect

"By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith."
Hebrews 11:4

There is a principle of creation.  Sowing and reaping.  If you want corn, you sow corn.  If you want wheat, you sow wheat.  If you want honest income, you sow hard work.  Scripture tells us, "Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap," (Galatians 6:7)  Cain and Abel give us examples of sowing and reaping and the actions they sowed were based in their hearts.

Abel chose to follow God’s plan.  He recognized that all he received came from God and he showed his heart by his offering, the first of his herd.  Abel and his offering were received by God.  Abel sewed to God’s plan and he reaped the crop of being approved.

Cain chose to follow his own plan.  He believed that the gain he received came from his work and he showed his heart by his offering, some of his crop not the first of his harvest.  Cain sewed seeds of self focus and he reaped the crop of a life of anger.  He was too angry or arrogant to even ask why his offering was not accepted.  He reaped the crop of envying his brother.

The crop of consequences from Cain’s self-centered heart went far beyond him.  If you look at the genealogy of Genesis, Cain is the “father” of those known as the Canaanites.  The Canaanites are not shown positive in scripture, ending with Israel expelling the Canaanites from Palestine.

Remember, whether you are planting your garden, potted plant, or your life; God is not mocked.  You will grow what you plant.

1. What seeds are you sowing?
2. What crop do you want to harvest?
3. What changes do you need to make in your sowing to reap the crop you desire?