Icebreaker – Tell of a time when you were jealous of the gifts of others.
Text – Genesis 4:1-7
vs. 3-4 Cain brought some vegetables to God, while Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock. It cost Abel more to give his gift. It was his best.
Q: Have you ever told someone that all you expect is for someone to do their best?
vs. 5 Cain became jealous of Abel’s gift to God. He got offended with God, and became sad and depressed.
When we become jealous of what others do, we do not please God. Faith pleases God. We can not give half-heartedly and be in faith.
Q: Have you ever been to a birthday or Christmas party with a gift that you’ve put no thought into? How did you feel about your gift in comparison with some of the other gifts? How do you feel about a gift that you give with a pure heart?
vs. 7 says that when we do not do well, sin crouches at our door; its desire is for us, but we must master it.
Jealousy led to anger which led to murder. Jesus says that to hate someone is murder. When we don’t do what we know to be right, then we fall into sin. This Scripture tells us we can master it.
Romans 6:12 says, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,”
We chose whether sin masters us, or we master sin.
Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. – ”
It is only by the grace of God that we can walk free from sin. But we can! He would never ask us to do something that can not be done. He can help us master sin.
Remember last week? We said that Jesus can sympathize with our infirmities. He can help us.
Pray and ask God to help you master sin.
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I just had to come over and say, “Yes, I will”, to your request. Thank you for coming over 🙂
“Was there a time you were jealous of the gifts of others?” You mean, like EVERY time the gym coach yelled at me in grade school to climb the rope, and I couldn’t get off the ground? 😀
Great point, in all seriousness. We need to take what we have and better it, not just sit and envy others their abilities. Thanks for a thought-provoking post!
What a great way to bring this to light…by asking questions that bring it down into our lives. I love it. Thank you
Good message.
I have often been jealous of folks who were raised in sane, Godly households. But lately, I’ve begun to have appreciation for the way I was raised, and the people who raised me, in a weird sort of way.
I always get tense around Christmas, because I feel like I never know what to get anyone in my family. I don’t want to get something with no thought, but I also usually don’t have that much money. This year, I’m determined to (try to) not stress about it, and to do something low-key. Perhaps a letter to each person or something.
The grass is always greener. I always felt less “saved” because I didn’t have a sordid background…I didn’t want the history, just the conversion…