Very few people name their little boys “Cain”, and the reason is because many people know the story of the first child named Cain in the Bible. John the apostle has been sharing with us about one of the most important commandments – to love one another. Today he provides Cain as an example of how not to love. He wrote in First John chapter three and verse twelve:
Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
Notice with me first to whom John associates Cain “of that wicked one.” Now that is an association that none of us should desire, and it gives us a clue of how Cain became the way he was. Back in the first book of the Bible – Genesis – in chapter four verses one through eight we read:
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If you do well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou do not well, sin lies at the door. And unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
There is more to this story if you'd like to go on reading in Genesis, but suffice it for now to say that more than likely Abel's offering made Cain feel guilty and jealous. The rage that built inside of Cain was strong enough that he killed his brother, and if we read enough of the Bible, we will find that this is the same spirit that is in the devil. Cain hated his brother Abel because Abel's works were righteous, and God blessed Abel for his offering. Cain's offering was rejected, but he was offered an opportunity to make things right, and he refused. Rather he decided to kill his brother in order to remove what made him feel guilty and jealous.
When we love as John has encouraged us, guilt and jealousy should not have any part within it. Although jealousy is really “love threatened from without” and infers “that someone is going to take something I love and I am going to kill them for it”, this is misdirected love. It's a selfish love, and not a love for others. This was Cain's problem. He loved himself, and the embarrassment and jealousy he experienced when threatened by his brother made him kill him.
If we are going to love the way John encourages us to love, jealousy and guilt must leave. We must not have the traits of the wicked one and “kill” others when their deeds are more righteous than ours. If this is our mantra and motive, we must repent before God and ask Him to forgive us and help us to be more like Him.
Next time John shares with us about what to do when the world hates us, so read ahead and we shall share together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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