Those who do not serve God hate him who does because they cannot help wishing that they were like him, yet they have no intention of imitating him, and this makes them jealous and envious. Instead of being angry with themselves, they are angry with him.—Sermons, Thomas P. Newman.
The reason of the rejection of Cain’s offering was that he had not been “doing well.” (“It would be strange if the gods looked to gifts and sacrifices and not to the soul.”—Plato.) Notice that the offering is secondary: Abel and his offering, Cain and his offering; the man and his state of spirit are the important elements.—Commentary on Genesis, Marcus Dods.
AIM
To help the child to feel the beauty and strength of the love that envieth not, and to awaken within him a desire to possess it.
LESSON PREPARATION
Envy is defined as “selfish ill-will toward another because of his superior success, endowments, or possessions.” It is a feeling which is apt to be displayed by children comparatively early because of the greater success of their classmates in school, or of the larger possessions of those whose parents have either more money or less wisdom in spending it than their own. It is so ugly a trait and so insidious in its attacks that it is well to have a lesson like this which shows the sin in its most hideous form. The story of Joseph’s brethren, who hated him because he was more worthy than they, and of Saul, who viewed with murderous jealousy the popularity of the young David, are other instances of the direction in which envy inevitably carries those who yield to it. In preparing the lesson imagine how the two boys probably differed in their boyhood, for “great crimes are committed only by men whose characters have been gradually debased by lesser sins.” Kent points out nine vital truths illustrated by the story of which the preceding quotation is one. Another which Juniors would be able to understand is that God patiently points out to the offender the right way and endeavors to influence him to follow it. Another is guilt unconfessed cuts a person off from his fellows.
LESSON PRESENTATION
Introduction
I am thinking of a strange picture in which a flaming sword that turns in every direction closes the way into a garden. Back in the distance I can see a place over which the sun is shining with warmth and beauty. Trees and plants and birds and flowers are all glad in the sunshine, and the animals are running and playing for very joy; but there are no people there. What garden is it that I see? Were there ever any people in it? Who were they? What command was given to them there? When they disobeyed that command they could no longer live in that beautiful home, and when they went out from it the flaming sword was placed there to show them that they could never hope to go back to the place where they had been so happy while they were innocent and obedient children of the heavenly Father.
Suppose some one should ask us to tell how people might have a happy home in these days—what would we say? I should say that first of all the people in the home must love and be glad to help each other. (Let the children express their own ideas freely but guide the conversation so that the essentials of obedience, cheerfulness, and kindness will be mentioned.)