Genesis 4:2. How You Work Works on You

Genesis 4:2 “And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.”

We are not told who named Abel, whose name means “a breath.” He was clearly younger than Cain, but there isn’t enough evidence in the text to conclude for sure that he was the second child or if other children were born in between. Most important to the story, however, is the contrast between the two brothers, which begins in this verse with a brief description of their respective occupations. Abel was a shepherd, but Cain was a farmer. The conjunction “but” establishes the tone that despite having very many things in common, there was a decisive difference between the two brothers. While both of their professions were equally noble, a lesson can perhaps be gleaned from the inspired author’s choice of verb to describe the two brothers’ habitual actions and thus their characters. Abel was a keeper, but Cain was a tiller. Abel took care of and maintained, while Cain stirred up, turned and overturned. How do you tend to relate to the things that God gives? With what attitude do you perform God-given duties? Are you a keeper, or are you one who stirs things up? The way you work today works on you, and the character of your work reveals your character.