by Nadine Bushell, member of the CCSJ
We long for more when we have enough – We commit the sin of discontent in the midst of plenty
We all fall prey to wanting more than what we have and even when we appear to have it all we are discontented. Adam the first human creation represents this. We are all familiar with Adam’s story in the bible. Adam was created perfect by God. He was in harmony with nature. He was the happy caretaker of the Garden of Eden. God told him he was free to eat from any tree in the garden, except the tree of knowledge of good and evil, otherwise he would die. God felt that Adam should not be alone He said “it is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helpmate” (Gen 2:18). God put Adam into a deep sleep, took one of his ribs and enclosed it in flesh. Adam felt complete. He now had Eve. “Now both of them were naked, the man and his wife, but they felt no shame in front of each other” (Genesis 2:25).
His wife Eve was however, tempted by the serpent. An innocent conversation between Eve and the serpent created in Eve a new longing, when what she and Adam had was enough. The snake tempted her by telling her that her eyes would be opened up like gods, knowing good and evil. Eve took some fruit and ate it and also gave some to Adam.
Immediately after eating the fruit, they both realised they were naked and quickly covered themselves. They also heard the sound of God walking in the garden. He admonished and punished them. He cursed the serpent. He told Eve he would multiply her pains in childbirth and he told Adam he would suffer to get his food.
God provided Adam with everything he required for his pleasure, but he wanted more. Eve was able to convince him to eat the forbidden fruit because there was a hint of discontent. The only thing God told him to avoid he submitted to. He sacrificed his own abundance to this temptation and so lost much. Adam is familiar to all of us. Life and history are full of stories of people who “have everything” who risk this for something inconsequential. Many of our politicians, businesspersons, religious leaders make the newspapers for fraud, embezzlement, sexual indiscretions and more. And so in life many times of our own accord, we exchange our “riches” for the poverty of embarrassment and exile.
We have to be careful of judging Adam. We all long for more when we have enough, and suffer from the sin of discontent in the midst of plenty.
What can we learn from Adam? We must be obedient – that is the only way we can enjoy the good God intends for us. We must think of our own life and see where obedience is required. Adam and Eve suddenly became aware of their nakedness – they tried to hide themselves from God. We must ask ourselves “how do we hide from God?”
Adam shows us what God promised us – a good life. He showed us how we fail. But Adam was created in God’s image and likeness and in 1 Corinthians 15:22 we are told “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
So we must thank God for making us in his image and likeness, and for what he has given us – it is enough. We must acknowledge any discontent, mistrust and disobedience we may have that prevents us from enjoying the good things God wants us to have. We must also ask God to help us understand the link between obedience and blessing and to help us to determine where we are required to be more obedient. With this we become available for God’s work to fight for justice and peace.
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