Cain and Abel.
The Worship and Faith of one was accepted by God, the other was not.
It’s been going on since the foundation of the world.
Of course, the Cain’s of the World will try to murder this idea of personal responsibility to choose, believe and worship in a way that God will accept.
Abel worshipped God with his best, his priority, and sincerely. Cain could have learned from the pattern that gained favor, but rather than learning from someone doing right, he sought to remove the competition that demonstrated his half-hearted worship.
The same thing happens today, maybe not with a rock to the head, but closing ears, killing the influence and making excuses why one is a hypocrite, self-righteous, or some other obfuscation to excuse their life that God cannot bless.
God will either bless your life because of your putting God first or God will mark your life that will warn others of your bad choices.
God spoke to Cain twice. This demonstrated the desire for God to do what God could bless him and give him favor above his brother. But he chose differently and was cursed. Little decisions, if we don’t repent can have terrible consequences. It all begins with proper priority and giving God your best. Abel gave God his First and his Best (fat). God will always bless that priority and commitment. Always.
Genesis 4
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.