When your sacrifice is not appreciated and wages are insufficient.
Just reading the title triggers some feelings you have been suppressing, for conscience sake. You have made many sacrifices to gain the acceptance and favor of God, only to feel rejected and your offering unappreciated. This can be a reason for an OFFENDED heart…right???
You have worked your but off trying to get over the hump to live a life free of nuances from living in this world, only to come up short. Now, you are feeling defeated and frustrated. This can be a reason for a TROUBLED mind…right???
Let’s take a closer look…
Lord, Your rejection has offended me~ The Heart speaks
The Bible is filled with information on how God deals with the offended heart, and the person with the offended heart responsibility. I do not wish to bore you with setting the scene, so I will address one person in particular - Cain, the first baby recorded born into the world. Now a man with a sibling (Abel).
Cain’s sacrifice was rejected or not appreciated as Abel’s:
Genesis chapter 4, verses 3 through 7;
3 In the course of time Kayin brought an offering to Adonai from the produce of the soil; 4 and Hevel too brought from the firstborn of his sheep, including their fat. Adonai accepted Hevel and his offering 5 but did not accept Kayin and his offering. Kayin was very angry, and his face fell. 6 Adonai said to Kayin, “Why are you angry? Why so downcast? 7 If you are doing what is good, shouldn’t you hold your head high? And if you don’t do what is good, sin is crouching at the door — it wants you, but you can rule over it.” [Complete Jewish Bible]
Notice that God did not say Cain or his offering was wrong. [Selah moment]
God simply said, if you are doing what is good, shouldn’t you hold your head high? And if you don’t do what is good, sin is crouching at the door - “it wants you, but you can rule over it.”
Based on the information presented, Cain has a choice in what happens next.
Cain’s options to choose while offended by God’s acceptance and approval of another’s offering above his.
Cain could ask God why his offering was not accepted, approved, and appreciated.
Cain could ask God what should he offer to be accepted, approved, and appreciated.
Can could exchange his offering with Abel for one of his accepted, approved, and appreciated offerings,
I purposely did not include options that would not gain Cain - the Acceptance, Approval, and Appreciation from God. We must eliminate any option that does not present SOLUTIONS to overcome our problems, leaving us offended and troubled.
True, we are only human. True, as a human, we can be offended. However, God teaches us there is no reason to be offended when you are doing what is right [obvious, right???]. Nonetheless, consider the second part - when we don’t do good or right, sin desires to rule us!!! [Sin-nature of all humans]
Don’t give sin a place and triumph over sin by subduing your feelings and keeping your emotions in check.
Brother, this is easier said than done!! I hear you and agree. We need help from God. For instance, in the first letter (from Paul) to the Corinthians chapter 12, verses 7 through 11
7 Moreover, to each person is given the particular manifestation of the Spirit that will be for the common good. 8 To one, through the Spirit, is given a word of wisdom; to another, a word of knowledge, in accordance with the same Spirit; 9 to another, faith, by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of healing, by the one Spirit; 10 to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, the ability to judge between spirits; to another, the ability to speak in different kinds of tongues; and to yet another, the ability to interpret tongues. 11 One and the same Spirit is at work in all these things, distributing to each person as he chooses. [Complete Jewish Bible]
Notice the Spirit of God works through people giving them special abilities and functions for fulfilling God’s purpose. The highlighted sections are crucial for our discussion on how offense is avoided and eliminated when reasons are presented. [Not giving sin the chance to justify being offended]
Elsewhere, in the Bible, we learned how Abel was able to choose an offering more acceptable than Cain. Hebrews chapter 11, verse 4
4 By trusting, Hevel offered a greater sacrifice than Kayin; because of this, he was attested as righteous, with God giving him this testimony on the ground of his gifts. Through having trusted, he still continues to speak, even though he is dead. [Complete Jewish Bible]
By trusting (Faith), Abel chose the better offering than Cain. Proving there is no reason for offense, because Abel's offering was better and preferred by God. God is Sovereign and has a right to choose what He likes. Here’s the kicker! God revealed to Cain the spirit of sin - crouching at the door of his heart, desiring to get in and cause havoc.
Don’t neglect the gifts and teachings of the Spirit, or you will be overtaken by sin.
I will close with this…
Cain's neglect of God's counsel led to feelings of rejection, and him entertaining options that wouldn't fulfill his objective. The testimony about Cain teaches us that when God reveals what He prefers, it is our choice to give Him what He prefers. The consequence for not asking God for clarity or giving Him what is proven preferred is to surrender rulership over our hearts to sin.
Simply ask God for His counsel and Holy Spirit to avoid the offense and eliminate the offense already present.
~Your Brother in Christ 21
“A Session with your Brother.”
Comments