Faith Worships God Acceptably

“By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4).

Abel’s story of faith comes from the early morning of human history (Genesis 4). Abel and his older brother Cain came to offer sacrifices to God. Cain brought an offering of “the fruit of the ground,” while Abel’s offering was “of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions” (verses 3-4). God “had regard for” (i.e., accepted) Abel and his offering, but not Cain and his offering (verses 4-5).

Why did God accept Abel’s worship and reject Cain’s? It surely was not on a whim, nor was it personal favoritism (see Acts 10:34). No, Abel offered a better sacrifice “by faith.” As we saw already, faith is produced by divine testimony—the word of God (see Romans 10:17). We can only conclude, then, that God had given some commandment concerning these sacrifices. Abel obeyed and Cain didn’t! Abel’s faithful obedience provided “testimony that he was righteous.” John confirms that Cain’s deeds were evil, while his brother’s were righteous (1 John 3:12). As God afterward said to Cain, “If you do well, you will be accepted” (Genesis 4:6).

Perhaps God’s instruction to Cain and Abel concerned what the offering was to be or how it was to be made. When God says what He wants in worship, we are not free to ad lib. Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, perished after they offered “profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them” (Leviticus 10:1-2). God explained, “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy” (verse 3). Worship is about glorifying our Creator, not pleasing our own physical or emotional senses. Faith honors God’s holiness and is content to worship as He directs.

Some think Cain’s failure was in his attitude. God has always sought worship from a sincere heart and mind. Paul stressed this in discussing the Lord’s Supper: “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup in an unworthy manner shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself…For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly” (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). He said, “I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also” (14:15). All of our worship should be with the same heartfelt purpose. Daydreaming, napping, passing notes or playing with babies during worship is not the response of faith. Faith treats worship not as a ritual performance, but as an outpouring of the soul to Almighty God.

Cain was moved by jealous anger to murder Abel (Genesis 4:5-8). Was this typical of Cain’s character? The text does not say. But Scripture shows that when we disregard God’s commands in everyday life, He will reject our worship. God said to Judah, “Will you steal, murder, commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods…then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—that you may do all these abominations?” (Jeremiah 7:9-10). Even unresolved personal conflicts can hinder our worship (Matthew 5:23-24). God has no delight in the praises and prayers of unrepentant people. Faith seeks to worship God with “clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:4).

“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). By faith, righteous Abel did just that. And so must we.