Tim Outlaw
Steak or Leftovers
Imagine with me a former U.S. President (pick one you like) is coming over to your house for dinner. What you wear, how clean your house is, what you’ll serve are likely at the forefront of your mind.
Take a minute right now and think what would you serve him? Do you have it? Don’t move forward reading until you thought it through. Chances are you decided to serve him something nice and fancy or maybe a recipe that has been passed down from generations. I doubt you thought to yourself hot dogs or whatever is left over in the fridge. You are meeting someone of prestige, so you’ll want to present your best to them
Now read this passage in Genesis.
Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. Genesis 4:2-5 ESV
If we look at Cain’s offering there’s nothing that stands out. I used to read this passage and say what’s wrong with it, there doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with it. However, Abel’s offering we see some key words “firstborn” and “fat portions.”
In other words Abel brought his best, it was an offering that stands out and was set apart from the other offering. Isn’t that what we are suppose to bring to our Lord?
There’s nothing wrong with leftover tacos, I love leftover tacos but I wouldn’t serve them to a president. I wouldn’t give something mediocre or just on par to someone in a place of honor. I was convicted the other night as I know I do this, bring mediocrity repeatedly to the Lord. He doesn’t want ‘just good enough’ he wants excellence, an offering of the best we have.
So I ask myself if day in, day out I’m bringing an offering to the Lord equivalent of left over tacos, what would it look like if when I go to work, I do as to the Lord and bring it like filet mignon? When I have that neighbor I should be loving to what if I brought it like lobster instead of ramen noodles?
