Bring Your Best

Hall of Fame NBA Coach, Pat Riley, expecting his teams to be “All In” teams, whether you were a starter or bench player. He was quoted “There are only two options regarding commitment you are in or you are out. There is no such thing as life in-between.” 

Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel, that show us God could not agree more with Coach Riley.

“…Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:2-7

We all want to be blessed by God….It’s all part of our relationship with God. But as we learn from this story, our relationship with God is NOT transactional but transformational.  We don't give to God in order to receive from Him—that's transactional. We surrender to God our everything so he can change us from the inside out giving us joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control. God’s desire for us is to be Transformed by Him and that only happens when we go all in with HIM. Cain thought if I give some to God then that should be good enough. But we see that Abel didn’t just bring some... He delivered THE BEST (the first and fat are the best). Too often we think as long as I give God some of my attention, some of my heart, some of my gifts/talents, some of myself; that should be good. 

It’s Not. 

God does not want some, but rather our best. God didn’t reject Cain’s offering because it didn’t mean anything to God. It was rejected because it didn’t mean anything to Cain. God is not a God that will accept our leftover days, our leftover energy, our leftover time… He wants our best!!

Are you all-in.