The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 15:6, “Then he (Abram) believed in the LORD, and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”

The Hebrew word for righteousness (tsedaqah) means rightness, justness, lawfulness. The “root (of the word) basically connotes conformity to an ethical or moral standard.”

One scholar states that the original significance of the Hebrew root, sdq, means “to be straight.” This is certainly in line with the character of Almighty God. It is upon Abram’s belief in Him that righteousness was bestowed. It is, therefore, reasonable that He should desire all of His children (all believers in Jesus Christ) to be just like Him, and for those who are to be declared “righteous.”

Another writer views righteousness from an ethical standpoint, saying, “Righteousness is the quality of relationships between individuals.” The Bible says,

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (James 5:16c).

This is precisely what made the prayer of Jabez effective.

And Jabez was more honorable than his brothers… (I Chronicles 4:9).

It was not that Jabez was all that he might have become; he was simply more righteous than his brothers. It’s to our advantage not to look too closely at other believers. Doing that causes us to excuse ourselves from being all that we ought to be and instead, measuring our “righteousness” by the standard we find in others.

Still, what constitutes righteousness? How does the LORD measure righteousness in each of us? One of the earliest tests is Scripture concern the brothers, Cain and Abel. Each brother was given Divine direction regarding the nature of the sacrifice he was to bring to the LORD. This is in evidence through what the LORD said in Genesis 4:7, where He reminded Cain “‘If you do well…’” How was Cain to “do well,” except that he had previously been so instructed? How would Abel have known to bring the “fat portions,” except that the LORD had so instructed him?

Three specifics come to light in this test of the two brothers: first, their activity; second, their attitude; and third, their motive.

Abel was a keeper of flocks, a shepherd; Cain was a tiller of the ground, a farmer. Although both men knew what God had directed them to bring as an offering, Cain ignored the Divine directive and brought the fruit of the work of his own hands. Abel, on the other hand, obeyed the LORD’s directive and “brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of their fat portions.”

Upon inspection, the LORD accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s.

And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard (Genesis 4:4b-5a).

Notice carefully that the LORD’s acceptance was both of Abel and of his offering –not the offering alone. Likewise, His rejection of Cain was of both the offering bearer and the offering he bore. What is involved here? Simply this: Abel brought the sacrifice the LORD had ordered. In doing this, he demonstrated a rightness in his activity. Cain, by refusing to bring the correct sacrifice, demonstrated a wrongness. The proper activity is very important. It demonstrates both obedience and subservience toward God.

Note that Cain became angry (Genesis 4:5b), and ultimately murdered his brother, Abel.

Not a good attitude at all. We must be careful in examining Cain’s motive. That’s one area that must be left to God. Yet, there must have been some self-centeredness in Cain, causing him to believe that he need not pay attention to the LORD. He was master of his own soul.

Are you and I really obedient and subservient toward God? I have included myself in this question because no one, who claims to be a Christian can avoid it. At the same time, none of us can avoid being and doing what we ought to be by looking at another person’s response to the LORD. Check your activities! Check your attitudes! Check your motives!

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the Word of Truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”