“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.” (Genesis 3:6)
We’ve been tracking with Eve’s temptation all week, but why did Adam sin? Why did he eat from the one tree out of all those others in the paradise garden of Eden that God put on the “no” list? And if he was there with Eve the whole time listening in on her conversation with the serpent, why didn’t he say anything?
Much has been made of The Silence of Adam in this tragic moment, and there are warnings here for men about our role as husbands and spiritual leaders. But there’s a wider warning for all of us followers about why we sin. We sin because someone else did.
It’s a human tendency. We designate certain people in our lives to do our thinking and feeling for us. We refuse to take responsibility for our own choices. If she does it, then I’m doing it, too. If he says “no,” I’m out. Honestly, it’s much easier to delegate all of our spiritual decisions to other people, which is probably why so many lazy Christians live that way.
But we don’t get any credit with God for farming out our conscience; we still face the consequences for our sinful choices.
Think: How much more likely are you to make a sinful choice if your closest friend makes that choice first? What can you do to make sure that you’re not mindlessly following anyone else’s choices to disobey God?
Pray: Ask God to help you to follow him more closely than you follow anyone else, especially when it comes to choices about obeying him.
Do: Read Jesus’ harsh words for those who use their influence to lead children into sin in Matthew 18:5-6.