Monday, November 6, 2017

November 7, 2017

"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves." Genesis 3:6-7

After spending several days studying Adam and Eve I want to distill it down to one simple truth:

Gratitude = God focused

Greed = self-focused

Thankful people are God focused people as opposed to dissatisfied unhappy people whose lives are self-focused.

I think that is obvious from the reading of this tragic story of the Fall.

Gratitude and greed are the flip sides of the same coin.

When Adam and Eve walked with their lives centered on Him, they enjoyed contentment and satisfaction. When their will was surrendered to His will they lived in the wonder of His presence. When they found their pleasure in pleasing Him, they reaped all the joys of Paradise. As long as God was their chief desire, He filled their life with delight. When they kept focused on all their blessings from God they lived in humble gratitude.


But something happened one day in the Garden! There was trouble brewing in Paradise!


Did they begin to take their perfect fellowship with God for granted?


Did they let their thoughts drift toward curiosity about the Tree of Life?


Did they allow a wrong desire to creep into their spirit? 


Whatever the cause, the first couple wandered carelessly close to the forbidden tree. Once they were close to the Tree they were within range for the Tempter. And because they had allowed their focus to drift away from God and onto their fleshly desires they were susceptible to the tempting offer.When it was given they willfully disobeyed.


Could it be that gratitude is the most basic of all the Christian attitudes?


Is it possible that ingratitude, or greed, is the root cause of sin?


Think about it.


When Adam and Eve remained grateful they remained holy, but then they got a little greedy.....