Two sons were born to Adam and Eve. The first was named Cain; the second, Abel. Cain was a gardener; Abel was a shepherd.
The two brothers heard from their father and mother about God, and they felt how good it was to worship the great Creator of the earth. But there was a difference between the characters of these two brothers. Cain, as he dug the soil and tended his plants, thought of God as a great and terrible King. Abel, as he wandered through the valley with his flocks, thought of God as a kind Father. Cain was half afraid of God; Abel loved his Maker.
THE WAY IN WHICH CAIN BEGAN ΤΟ HATE HIS BROTHER
Now, the way these two men worshipped God was by sacrifice. That is to say, they gave up something which was theirs, and offered it to God. In our day people give up money for God, or proud positions, or pleasures, and serve Him humbly by helping the sick, the sorrowful, and the needy. Cain gave up some of his fruits and Abel gave up some of his flocks.
But Cain’s sacrifice was made grudgingly. It was a sulky gift. He gave because he was afraid not to give. Abel, with purer heart and nobler soul, gave of his very best to God, and gave cheerfully, because he loved.
And when Cain saw that Abel’s sacrifice was better than his, instead of making his own like to it, he hated Abel. He became what we call jealous, or envious.
He would think bitterly of Abel as he dug in his garden or walked home through the fields at sunset. He would hate him for being better than himself.
THE SINFULNESS OF CAIN AND THE DEATH OF ABEL
And so long did he dwell on this angry thought that at last he could think of nothing else. Directly he thought of his herbs, his thoughts flew to Abel; directly he thought of God, his thoughts flew to Abel. Eating and working, resting and sleeping, his thoughts fastened themselves like a swarm of angry wasps on the beautiful and noble character of his brother Abel.
One day they met in the fields. The two brothers fell into talk. Soon the talk became an argument. In the midst of the argument, rage suddenly seized upon Cain. He felt his brother to be a better man than he. He knew that he himself was inferior.
The thought was more than his wicked temper could bear. With a wild and desperate fury he sprang upon his brother, struck him, and killed him.
In an instant the voice of God sounded in his soul:
“Where is Abel, thy brother?”
But the Voice in his soul continued: “What hast thou done?”
And Cain knew that he had done murder. The Voice spoke again, and spoke of another voice which Cain himself could hear.
“The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me from the ground.”
Cain knew then the horror of his crime. He had done something which could not be undone. A moment before Abel had been a living man; now he lay dead and still. Cain could never restore him.
With a bitter cry of agony he called upon God: “My punishment is greater than I can bear.”
THE FIRST CRIME TOLD IN THE BIBLE GREW OUT OF SELFISHNESS
He went forth a fugitive. Henceforth there could be no rest for him; no hours of peace and contentment; no days of happiness and joy. On his soul was the mark of murder. In his mind was the voice of his brother’s blood. In his heart was despair.
We are not told whether Cain ever recovered peace of mind. He was sorry for his sin. Whether he stopped at being sorry, or whether from that moment he strove to become loving, tender, and unselfish, we do not know. But enough of his story is told for us to see that envy is one of the most dangerous and horrid of all wicked moods.
The first crime recorded in God’s Word is the awful crime of murder, and that crime was caused by exactly the same spirit which makes people to-day wish to be richer, grander, cleverer, and prouder than their neighbours. God’s law is that we shall be unselfish. Envy is selfishness.