You never have to wait for anyone’s permission to do what’s right.
Genesis 4:6-7
The “cookie jar” has taught many of us a lesson – and it’s not about cookies.
It’s about authority.
To understand it, we have to realize something… It’s not that Mom didn’t want us to enjoy the flavor of our favorite treat, it was just that she knew that dinner was coming soon, and she wanted us to eat broccoli instead.
And as many Moms find out, that’s easier said than done! (Especially after we’ve filled our belly with those oatmeal raisin cookies that we got when she wasn’t looking!)
One more thing about authority… Even though Moms always know how many cookies are in the jar AND they have eyes in the back of their heads, we all learn early that authority is something we’re going to have to deal with for the rest of our lives. And since we’re going to have to live under someone else’s authority, we also learn another important lesson…
Permission.
One day it’s a cookie and the next, it’s asking to borrow the car to go to the prom.
Sometimes the answer is “Yes” and sometimes, it’s the other word… 🙁
Today’s Tiny Words. Big Life. Bible verse is one of the more disturbing accounts of evil in the entire book.
After being driven from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had two sons. The firstborn was Cain and second came Abel. As they grew, each son tended to things that the family depended on. Cain took care of the land and Abel took care of the flocks of animals.
Once they became of age and as they were compelled to do, each son presented God with an offering. Cain brought God some fruits from the garden and Abel brought fat portions from the firstborn of the flocks.
God was pleased with Abel’s offering because it was a significant sacrifice to bring the choicest cut from the animal whereas Cain’s offering was “holding back” the good stuff – bringing God what was left over. God was not pleased with Cain’s offering and let him know about it. Cain then became angry and his “face was downcast”.
God’s question to him was, “Why are you angry? If you’d only done what’s right, your offering would be acceptable.”
Now comes the disturbing part… Cain was so angry that he tricked Abel to go into the field with him, the thing that he took care of, and killed him.
The Tiny Words. Big Life. takeaway is this: Pray to respect authority by doing what’s right. Pray for a giving attitude and give to God what is His, not what’s leftover.
And the next time you have a craving for something sweet, ask your Mom for permission to eat some broccoli. Who knows, she might be so moved by your acknowledgement of her authority, you’ll get a cookie instead!
Genesis 4:6-7
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 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.”