Genesis 4:2b-5 

When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. 3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, 5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

“The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift.”  

Corinthians 9:7

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

Genesis 4:6-7

6 “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

Anger is a response not a stimulus. 

PRIDE

• A high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether in the mind or displayed in conduct
• A sense of what is due to oneself 

Genesis 4:8

“ One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.”[a] And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.”

“7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

Our opportunity for repentance is also the enemy’s opportunity to pounce.

All sin is serious.

Colossians, 3:5a

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. 

The solution to pride is belief that God knows more than we do and His way is best. This leads to surrender.

Hebrews 11:4

It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did.

Hebrews 11:6

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Luke 22:42

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 

“Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 

Philippians 2:7-8 

“Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”

Satan disguises submission to himself under the ruse of personal autonomy. He never asks us to become his servants. Never once did the serpent say to Eve, 'I want to be your Master'. The shift in commitment is never from Christ to evil; it is always from Christ to self. And instead of his will, self-interest now rules and what I want reigns. And that is the essence of sin." 

- Dennis F. Kinlaw (1922 - 2017)