One of the problems we encounter as practicing Christians is how do we strengthen our connection with God? I started reading the Bible more, I started the Bible in a year podcast, I read from a prayer book out loud with my wife almost every night, yet, it still feels like something is missing.
I recently just finished day 2 of the Bible in a year podcast where Father Mike reads through Genesis 3 and 4. These chapters include the story of Cain and Abel, and offer an opportunity to think about the kinds of offerings and sacrifices we make to God.
Cain is rejected by God because his sacrifices were not meaningful enough. He gave to God what he grew from the ground, but it seems as if what he gave was whatever he had, or maybe even whatever he had left after using the rest for himself. Abel offered to God the first of his flock’s lambs, thereby giving God his due first and foremost.
Creating a connection with God and establishing a relationship with him requires a love that is sacrificial; it must consider Him first and foremost, and that can be a tricky thing to do if we are not paying special attention. We may not fall into a jealous rage like Cain did, but it is possible to feel forsaken if things aren’t going the way we would like them to. In these moments we might question God and ask Him why He has allowed things to go badly, or why haven’t our prayers been answered.
Here’s what he said to Cain,
“Why are you angry? Why that scowl on your face? If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling; but because you have done evil, sin is crouching at your door. It wants to rule you, but you must overcome it” (Genesis 4:6-7).
We may feel as if we are doing the right thing, but if we find ourselves feeling forsaken, then it’s likely there is something we are doing wrong, or perhaps something that we are not doing. Maybe, the thing that we are not doing is putting God first in some way.
As I write this, I find myself in this position. Times have been very difficult financially, and it’s difficult for me to see the right way forward. I ask for God’s help, and he does send me signs, but it’s as if I chose not to listen to them. Going over Genesis 4 has helped me to realize that I am only offering what I have left of myself, instead of offering my best. It’s hard to offer your best when you don’t feel your best, but it must be done so anyway. The feeling of giving even when you feel you have not much to give grants some very interesting results. There’s a certain comfort that is felt by doing what you know to be the right thing despite the adversity to doing it.
So I took my apathy, decided to open up the Bible in a year podcast, and I figured that when all else fails, resorting to the Bible is always the right thing to do. I’m glad I did, because now I am writing this and I offer it to you, in the hopes that maybe this can inspire you if you happen to be feeling similarly. God is always there, we just have to be willing to look, and to look carefully because the details of how we look matter.
Father Mike suggests that a good way to give your first fruits is to make a specific portion of your day dedicated to prayer. He said that it doesn’t have to be your first waking moments, but that you set a time before moving on with your day just to check in with God and to promise to give him your best.