Will God accept as worship anything we offer to Him? May I play my instrument, light a candle, hum and meditate, or commune with nature in the woods, and call it worship? Will God accept just anything that I call worship and throw His way?

When Cain and Abel offered their gifts, one was accepted and one was not. Being a “tiller of the ground,” Cain offered unto the Lord “the fruit of the ground” (Gen. 4:3). Abel, being a “keeper of sheep,” brought of the “firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof” unto the Lord. The Lord had respect unto Abel’s offering, but unto Cain’s gift, he had not respect (4:4,5). Why?

Some have postulated that Cain’s error was his bad attitude. Cain’s gift was described as simply “the fruit of the ground” but Abel’s offering was the “firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof,” or the best he had to offer. There probably was an element of a sour attitude on Cain’s part. It certainly showed in his dealings with his brother (Gen. 4:8). But is this the only reason the Lord was dissatisfied with Cain’s offering?

The New Testament tells us that Abel offered his sacrifice by faith. “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” (Hebrews 11:4). What does that mean? The Bible is clear that biblical faith does not exceed God’s revelation. Paul wrote that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17; cf. John 20:30,31). If I believe something and act on that belief which is not supported by God’s word, then I believe too much.

If Abel’s offering was by faith, and the Bible says that it was, then Abel offered only that which God had authorized by revelation. We do not have that specific revelation recorded for us in God’s word, but we know that it consisted of just exactly what Abel offered, otherwise it could not be said to have been offered in faith.

John said that Cain’s works were “evil” and Abel’s “righteous” (I John 3:12). The Psalmists describes the righteous as those who walk and meditate upon the law of the Lord, or His word (Psalm 1). It is in His word that righteousness is revealed, particularly, now, in the gospel (Psalm 119:138; Rom. 1:16). To be evil is to act contrary to the will of God. The reason Cain’s offering was evil was because he did not offer what God had commanded him to offer, perhaps even in a way that was not commanded. But in any case he violated God’s commands.

Sin is the violation of God’s commands. John said, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4). No one can come before God and throw something in His face and say in effect, “This is my worship and you must accept it.” On the contrary, God tells us what is acceptable worship and we must offer that and nothing else. All your good intentions will avail nothing if it is not in harmony with God’s expressed will. Otherwise, sin lieth at the door.
Eric L. Padgett