The Cain syndrome – mama’s boy!
Genesis 4:5-6 (AMPC): “But for Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard. So Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed.6 And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected?
Cain is the firstborn of Adam and Eve. Because Cain is the first birth of mankind and the first baby of Adam and Eve. Like many parents and human families, Cain is severely spoiled as he is raised more than Able.
This is the revelation the Holy Spirit spoke and taught us during prayer. Cain was spoiled and basically a mama’s boy and daddy’s boy. He was catered to and overly treated well to the point where all things were basically handed to him on a “silver platter.”
Cain made a bad offering because he did not spend time with God. He just received approval from his parents, and that was his food. In today’s terms, a spiritual Cain is one who has not read the bible (or knows little of the Bible), does not pray much (or has not prayed much of their Christian lives), and does not spend much time with God (or a sporadic church attender/fellowship/bouncing church to church).
The characteristics of a spoiled “mama’s boy/girl or daddy’s boy/girl” exhibit tantrums and disrespectful traits when one does not get their way. Physically, they can get exceedingly angry and indignant, looking sad and depressed. As they were raised, their demands were generally met by the parents. Self-pity and Anger go hand in hand with those who exhibit the Cain syndrome. They are the ones where mommy/daddy did everything for them, and now, as adults, they really do not know how to handle responsibility or to function.
God asked Cain, “Why do you look angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected?”
Cain did not get his way. Cain did not get God’s approval. Cain was not first between his brothers when it came to the offering to God. Cain was always seeking approval since Mom and Dad had always exalted him as he grew up.
The Cain syndrome lives their lives on impulse. Impulse is defined as “a sudden strong and unreflective urge or desire to act.” It is without thought or wisdom but emotion and instant gratification. Esau was impulsive. In fact, Esau was also firstborn and overly favored to the point of being spoiled. Without thinking of consequences, he sold his birthright for instant gratification.
Do you show the characteristics of Cain? Always seeking approval of people? Getting angry and having a tantrum because you are not getting your way? Looking self-pity and sad to get attention? Looking for self-pity to manipulate people? Then it’s time to grow up and get out of it, or else, like Cain, you will manipulate your “Able” brothers who are getting favored by God. Then you will just spiritually wander in circles, having tantrums as you live your life clinging onto people rather than clinging on to God.
Pastor Steve Kim