A Prayer to Be Happy When God Is Generous to Others - Your Daily Prayer - February 27

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A Prayer to Be Happy When God Is Generous to Others
By: Laura Bailey 

Bible Reading:
“In the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,  but on Cain and his offering, he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.” - Genesis 4:3-5 NIV

Listen or Read Below:

I struggled to compose a response to my friend’s recent good news that she’d landed her first book contract. Though I was genuinely excited for her, there was a piece of me that felt envious, dare I say slighted, that God opened that door for her while it continued to remain shut for me.

I’d been waiting far longer than she had to get a book contract. I’d invested more time and finances honing my craft, so why did God give her the blessing of a book deal instead of me? Frustrations over God’s generosity towards others aren’t a new concept. In fact, the idea that we are entitled to God’s blessings, and our irritation over God’s generosity to others, is at the heart of the first recorded murder in Scripture.

In Genesis 4, we see that Adam and Eve have two sons, Cain andAbel. Cain, the oldest brother, works the ground, while Abel is a shepherd. The brothers both bring a sacrifice to the Lord, Cain some fruits, and Abel the fat portions from his flock’s firstborn. Scripture doesn’t provide details as to why the brothers felt the need to bring forth a sacrifice to the Lord, only that God looked upon Abel’s offerings with favor and unfavorably upon Cain’s offerings. Cain became angry, and his face was downcast (Genesis 4:1-5).

I’ll be honest, if I were Cain, I would be upset too, especially as the older sibling, if God preferred the offering of my younger brother’s to mine. And in the time this was originally written, it would have been unheard of for the older child to be passed over for the younger sibling.  We can easily read this text and feel that Cain is validated in his frustrations; at the very least, we might be tempted to demand that God give us a reason for his generosity to Abel over Cain.

However, as we read further, we see that God does not validate Cain’s feelings; He also doesn’t provide justification for his actions. God tells Cain that he doesn’t have a reason to be upset. If Cain does what’s right in the Lord’s eyes, then he too will experience God’s favor. But Cain has a choice in his response to feeling that God was undeservedly generous to Cain. He can accept and trust God’s sovereignty, even if he doesn’t like it. Or, as we see, Cain can allow jealousy, resentment, and pride to rob him of his peace, and ultimately cause Cain to murder his brother in an act of rage.

Graciously, my annoyance with God’s generosity hasn’t caused me to take someone’s life. Still, I have, like Cain, acted rudely or harbored resentment towards someone I felt was undeserving of God’s generosity. But here’s the thing about God’s generosity: it’s not limited. God blessing someone else doesn’t mean He can’t bless us too! We are finite in our humanness; we only have so much love to give, so much time and energy to invest in people. When we give attention to one area, someone or something else goes without. But God doesn’t work that way; He is infinite in His ability to love, grant grace, and extend mercy.

If you find yourself, like me, disappointed or frustrated when others receive something that you’d hoped, worked for, and prayed for, know that’s a normal response, and God understands your feelings. However, like Cain, we have a choice. We can choose to trust in God’s methods, His timing, His decision to give generously to whomever He desires, or we can allow sin to take over. We don’t have to compete for God’s generosity. Like a bud waiting to bloom, we can still flourish even if the garden is filled with flowers; we just have to trust that God is working all things for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). 

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank you that we don’t have to compete for your generosity. Your love is abundant, your mercies constant, renewing, and your grace abounds. I humbly ask that you shift my perspective so that when I am tempted to doubt your goodness or trust in your plan, I am reminded that you are the Creator and I am the created. Lord, help me fully grasp that You have enough love, grace, and mercy for me as well as the rest of the world. I can’t earn my way to you, I can’t strive, hustle, or knock out others so that you love me more. I am loved because I am Your child.

I love you, Lord. May I see my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ as companions, not competitors. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: © Getty Images/lorenzoantonucci 

Laura Bailey is an author and Bible teacher who encourages women to understand what they believe, why it matters, and how to apply biblical truths to their lives. Her recent book, Embracing Eternity in the Here and Now, explores how the timeless truths of Ecclesiastes help us live more peaceful, purposeful, and plentiful lives today.

She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and three young girls, where she serves as director of women's ministries at her church. Her passion is teaching the Bible to women, equipping them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com connect on Facebook and Instagram. 

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