2corinthians.bible/2-corinthians-9-7
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your hearts to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.-2 Corinthians 9:4-11
Paul in this passage is basically telling the Corinthians to put their money where their mouth is. Because the easiest way to tell what someone’s priorities are is look at what they are spending the majority of their money on. And we today could use reminding of this principle, because those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus will say that God is the number one priority in our life. But when it comes to our money and our finances we put ourselves first, and essentially tell God that he can have whatever is left over if there is anything left over. We don’t give cheerfully, but rather we give reluctantly and under compulsion. Other many of us who give do so only because God says that we have to, and not because we get to. We are no different then Cain. We bring God our second best and wonder why he doesn’t bless us.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering – fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angers, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”-Genesis 4:2-7 NIV
Able brought God his best, an offering or a gift from the first of what he had produced. While Cain brought God only what he had left over after he had taken care of his needs. And the end result of this was that Cain ended up murdering his brother Abel, all because he was jealous of the fact that God had blessed him because of his generosity. Cain sowed sparingly and therefore reaped sparingly. Give God your best and he will take care of the rest.