This parable was given to me quite some time ago. You will actually find it in the chapter “It’s Time” in my book “We Are Accountable.” One day God asked me, “Joe, would you like to know who the world's first religious man was?” I replied, “Yes Lord, I would.”

Then God told me the story of Cain and Abel. Each of Adam and Eve's sons had been delegated their own area of responsibility. Abel's job was to tend the sheep (Genesis, chapter 4, verse 2). Cain's job was to tend the garden. As they were no longer in the Garden of Eden they had to toil and grow their own food (Genesis, chapter 3, vs. 23 and chapter 4, vs. 2). Cain and Abel did not have God walking beside them and talking with them as He did with His son and daughter, Adam and Eve. But they were aware God looked upon them (Genesis, chapter 4, vs. 14) and they could hear God's voice.

One day Abel announced he intended to offer a sacrifice to God. Cain, the older brother then said, “I'll give God a sacrifice, too!” Abel from a sincere heart spoke to Father God saying, “Lord I love you, I am so thankful for all you have given to me, my brother, my mother and father. To show you my gratitude I would like to offer you a sacrifice.” Abel then asked, “What would be pleasing to you Lord?” Meanwhile back in the garden Cain was planting seeds. As he worked satan was whispering in his ear. “Goodie-Goodie little brother Abel wants to give a sacrifice to God! You'll show em, Cain! Your sacrifice will be even better because you've worked so hard at planting these seeds!”

Now let us look at the seeds Cain had planted in his garden. Cain was growing, lettuce, tomatoes, and strawberries. He worked everyday making sure no weeds took root; no animal came along to destroy. God sent the rain to nourish Cain's garden. As the plants began to grow, God looked down upon Cain's garden. Seeing the ripening strawberries God thought, “how delighted I will be when Cain offers me his strawberries.”

The offering day arrived. Able killed the first born lamb. Cain looking over his ripened garden to choose his offering, thought “how luscious and green is my lettuce, and just look how round, robust and red are my tomatoes.” Observing the strawberries Cain thought, “Wow! Just look at those strawberries, do I love strawberries!” It was then and there Cain knew the perfect sacrifice he would give to God. He said to himself, “I bet God would like a nice tossed salad.” God told Cain He was not pleased with his offering. satan had set Cain up to feel disappointed. He started to whisper again in Cain's ear. “You worked so hard and offered God two out of three. Look at baby brother! He hardly had to work at all. All he did was slay the first born lamb. If God likes slaying so much, why don't you slay little brother? Then God will have to deal with you on your terms.”

Its obvious Cain did not have a relationship with either God or his brother. Had he known God's voice, when he heard the voice of a stranger he would have refused to listen. If he had a relationship with his brother, Cain would have gone to his brother asking, “I don't understand, Abel. I gave God two out of the three plants I had growing in my garden, and still He told me He was not pleased. Yet you only had to slay a lamb.” Abel would have replied, “I don't know brother Cain, all I did was ask God what offering I might give Him that would please Him, and He told me to sacrifice my first born lamb to Him.” Cain would have slapped his brother on the back and said, “so that's it! You asked God what He would like, while I told God what He could have.”

This is the difference between relationship people and religious people. One having relationship from a humble loving servant's heart asks, “Father I love you, and want to thank You for all You have done for me. Please tell me what sacrifice I may make which would be pleasing to you.” Religious people tell God what He can have. Often, you will see them departing from the Sunday service early, especially if the service runs over an hour. “Hey God! I gave You my hour in church! I’ve done my duty! This dumb minister doesn’t seem to realize, I’ve made plans to tee off with my friends!” When you come to church on Sunday, what is your motive? Is it to offer to God your best? Or is it to perform your one hour only - duty? Do you tell God just how much of your valuable time He may have?

Those still in bondage by “religion” are willing to give God all but that which they covet for themselves. God had not wanted two things from Cain. He simply desired one - his best. But in telling God what He could have, Cain managed to save the best for himself. Religious people will hear a stranger's voice telling them to envy their brother’s relationship with God. They may not go so far as to kill their brother. But they will call him a “fanatic” and run from having any relationship with Him. I once heard a minister say when someone calls you a fanatic it simply means you love God more than they do.

Where are you choosing to stand? Do you wish to cling to empty and powerless “religion” which causes you to envy and have strife with your brother? Or will you choose to enjoy the “relationship” which Jesus wishes you to share with your Father, and your brothers and sisters? I pray that the day will soon come when a Spirit filled, loving army of “fanatics” will take a stand against the darkness in this world.