亚伯因着信献祭给神，比该隐所献的更美，藉此便得了称许为义的见证，就是神指着他的礼物所作的见证……（来十一4，另译）
亚伯牧羊，顾到神的满足
亚当和夏娃生了两个儿子。亚当和夏娃必定告诉他们，要以牲畜为祭献给神，好得到救赎，这是人到神面前唯一的路。弟弟亚伯很单纯，他相信父母所说关于救恩的路。因此他长大以后，选择了牧羊的工作。这是很特殊的，因为在亚伯的时候，人并不吃羊，那时候的人只吃蔬菜。所以亚伯牧羊完全不是为自己求食物得生存，他牧羊只有一个目的，就是献祭给神，使神得着满足。
亚伯这名字的意思是“虚空”。我们生来就是虚空的，若不为神牧羊，凡人所作的一切事，就都是“虚空的虚空”。但亚伯听了父母的话，接受父母所传的福音，他成了一个信的人。亚伯工作不是为着他的生活，乃是为着神的满足。亚伯牧羊只有一个目的，就是供应祭物给神。因此，亚伯是绝对事奉神的。他不仅相信福音，他更实行福音，并为福音活着。今天一面来说，我们是虚空的；但另一面说，我们在作了不起的事，就是为神牧羊。赞美主，在虚空之中，我们在牧羊来满足神。
该隐种地，顾到自己的需要
该隐从父母所领受的却和亚伯的不同。他没有听见（或是听见了但不觉得重要）人要献上祭牲来遮盖人的罪，并得神的喜悦。他却听见人必须劳苦耕种、汗流满面才得糊口。他想，若是不种地，我要怎么过活呢？他觉得种地养活自己比献祭给神更为重要。因此他长大以后，就选择了种地的工作。表面看来，似乎该隐聪明多了。然而该隐种地是为着自己，亚伯牧羊却是为着神。
该隐与亚伯，头一个种地，第二个牧羊。地为人出产食物，羊主要是为着献祭给神。因此，我们看见该隐服事地─世界，亚伯服事神。今天地上只有两类的人─服事世界的人，和为神牧羊的人。你是那一类？所有属世的人都殷勤热诚的服事地，全然没有顾到神，他们看那些为神牧羊的人是疯狂的。
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Abel Kept Sheep, Cain Tilled the Ground – Gen. 2-4, Heb. 11:4
Abel kept sheep, caring for God’s satisfaction — Adam and Eve bore two sons. They must have told them that in order to receive redemption, they needed to offer animals as sacrifices to God. This was the only way for man to come before God. The younger brother Abel was very simple; he believed what his parents told him about the way of salvation. Therefore, when he grew up, he chose the work of keeping sheep. This was very unusual, because in Abel’s time, people did not eat sheep; people only ate vegetables then. So Abel’s shepherding was not for his own food or survival. He had only one purpose
The meaning of the name Abel is “vanity” or “emptiness.” We are born in vanity, and if we do not shepherd for God, then everything man does is “vanity of vanities.” But Abel listened to his parents, received the gospel they passed on, and became one who believed. Abel’s work was not for his own living but for God’s satisfaction. His shepherding had only one purpose — to provide offerings for God. Thus Abel absolutely served God. He not only believed the gospel but also practiced the gospel and lived for the gospel. Today, on the one hand, we are vanity; yet on the other hand, we are doing something most wonderful — shepherding for God. Praise the Lord! In the midst of vanity, we shepherd to satisfy God.
Cain tilled the ground, caring for his own need — What Cain received from his parents was different from Abel. He either did not hear, or did not consider important, that man needed to offer animal sacrifices to cover sins and receive God’s favor. Instead, what he heard was that man must labor in tilling the ground and eat by the sweat of his face. He thought, If I don’t farm, how can I survive? To him, tilling the ground to feed himself was more important than offering sacrifices to God. So when he grew up, he chose to farm. On the surface, Cain seemed much more practical. Yet Cain’s farming was for himself, while Abel’s shepherding was for God. Cain and Abel: the first tilled the ground, the second kept sheep. The ground produces food for man, but sheep were primarily for offerings to God. Thus, we see that Cain served the ground — the world — while Abel served God. Even today there are only two types of people on earth: those who serve the world, and those who shepherd for God. Which type are you? The world diligently and zealously serve the ground, having no concern for God at all, while regarding those who shepherd for God as foolish or crazy.