The Offering That Moves God

What could you possibly offer to Almighty God that would move Him?

It’s a humbling question, isn’t it? When we consider the greatness of God—His sovereignty, His self-sufficiency, His perfection—what could we ever place in His hands that would cause Him to pause, to take notice, to be moved?

That’s what we explored this past Sunday, diving deep into one of the earliest stories in Scripture, found in Genesis chapter 4. It’s the story of Cain and Abel, two brothers, two offerings, and two very different responses from the Lord.

Let’s set the scene. Genesis 4:3 says, “It came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground.” Abel, we read, also brought an offering—“from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions.” And here’s the turning point: “And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering; but for Cain and his offering, He had no regard.”

At first glance, this feels unfair. Cain brought an offering. He was the one who initiated it. The Hebrew word used here—minhah—means to divide a portion or to bestow a gift. Cain gave from his labor, from the ground he worked. He didn’t bring something evil. He brought a gift. But God didn’t regard it.

Abel, however, brought the firstborn—the best—of his flock, and God took notice. He gazed upon it, Scripture says. He didn’t just accept it; He responded to it. Why?

Because Abel’s offering moved God.

And that’s what I believe God is asking us to think about as a church family: what kind of offering moves Him?

What We’ve Been Learning

If you’ve been walking with us through this series, you know we’ve been talking about sowing and multiplying. We started with the idea that God gives us opportunities—kingdom moments—to sow something He can multiply. But before God wants to multiply our money, He wants to multiply His Word in us. Before He increases what’s in our hand, He wants to increase what’s in our heart. That’s foundational.

We talked about sowing to the Spirit—not just giving physical things, but sowing obedience, surrender, and sacrifice under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We also spoke about giving from the heart, not reluctantly, not stingily, but cheerfully. Because stinginess is not a supply issue—it’s a heart issue.

Now, we’ve arrived at the concept of offering. Giving not just because we should, but because we want to. Because we can. Because we love God.

Cain vs. Abel – Heart Over Hand

So why was Abel’s offering accepted while Cain’s was not?

Hebrews 11:4 gives us a clue: “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous, God testifying about his gifts.” Abel gave in faith—hope, persuasion, and affection. He gave not to appease God or to get something in return, but because he trusted God would receive it.

Cain, on the other hand, may have given from fear or obligation. He may have thought, “If I give this, maybe God won’t be mad at me.” And we still do that today. We show up to church more when life gets hard. We tithe hoping for a financial breakthrough. We serve when we feel guilty. We give to get—but God’s not interested in transactional love. He’s looking for relational faith.

And here’s the truth: just because you give willingly doesn’t mean it’s something God can bless.

Let that sink in. Cain gave willingly. But it lacked faith. It lacked heart. It lacked worship.

The First Act of Worship

Many theologians believe that this moment in Genesis 4 was the first recorded act of worship in Scripture. Not a song. Not a sermon. An offering.

Abel’s offering wasn’t just a transaction—it was a declaration. A declaration of trust. A declaration of love. A declaration that said, “God, I want You to have this because I love You, and I believe You’ll receive it.”

What we learn from Abel is that offerings are about posture, not just provision. They are about the heart, not just the hand. God is not moved by your leftovers. He is moved by your first and best—when it’s mixed with faith.

What About Us?

So what does this mean for us in 2025?

It means that God is calling us higher. He’s asking us to evaluate our offerings—our time, our money, our energy, our ministry, our presence—and ask ourselves, Is this an act of worship or just obligation?

And listen, I get it. Life is hard right now. Our family went from two incomes down to one. Gas prices are high, food costs are up, and everything seems tighter. But here’s the beauty of offering: it’s not about how much you give—it’s about why you give it. It’s about who you’re giving it to.

You may not have much, but what you give can still move God—if your heart is in it.

The Takeaways

Let me leave you with a few key truths from Sunday’s word:

1. Willingly bringing something doesn’t mean God will bless it.

   Cain gave, but his heart wasn’t in it. God wants your affection, not your obligation.

2. Bringing our best to God—first—honors Him.

   Don’t wait until the bills are paid or until you’re well-rested or free from stress. Give Him your best now, not your leftovers.

3. Without faith, our offering doesn’t catch God’s attention.

   It’s not about how polished or pretty the gift is—it’s about the faith that’s in it.

4. When faith is mixed with our offering, it moves God.

   Whether it’s your money, your marriage, your worship, or your work—offer it with persuasion and hope.

5. Offering is worship.

   When we give from the heart, we are not just contributing—we are worshiping.

Church, God is not challenging us because He’s angry. He’s challenging us because He loves us. He’s calling us to go higher, to grow deeper, to become worshipers again—not just singers, not just givers, but worshipers. People who bring what’s in their hands because their hearts are full of affection for Him.

This week, ask yourself: Is what I’m offering to God moving Him? Or am I just checking a box?

Let’s be a church that gives—not out of fear or guilt—but out of love. A church that gives the kind of offering that makes God pause, smile, and say, “That’s beautiful.”

Amen.