Thinking About Eve

We know what she did. She listened to someone tell her that what God said wasn’t true. Based on that, she took fruit, ate it and shared with her husband. No doubt about that as it is written in Genesis.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:6 KJV)

She disobeyed God’s command. That is how sin is defined, disobedience to God’s command. But what name can be put on this sin?

I just read an article that said her sin could be defined as Gluttony. The article is on Relevant Magazine’s site, and the title is “The Sociably Acceptable Sin.”

Most of the sins listed in the Bible are not social acceptable. Take a look at one in Proverbs:

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV)

Eve possibly could be considered a false witness, but basically she told Adam the truth – the fruit was tasty. What about the list in Galatians:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 KJV)

Nope, I don’t see much of Eve’s actions here – perhaps envy, but none of the others. The article defines her sin as gluttony:

At its simplest, gluttony is the soul’s addiction to excess. It occurs when taste overrules hunger, when want outweighs need.

Gluttony goes beyond comfort, beyond the provision of our needs. Eve had all she needed, but she was given. It is often viewed as pertaining to food and/or drink, but doesn’t it fit into Eve’s sin? She could eat any fruit in the garden – but one. She wanted more.

Isn’t that socially acceptable today? That wanting more than it takes to see to our basic need? I’ve been guilty of that, too. I have material excesses. Every once in a while I'm tempted for more. There is a better way than feeding our own desires.

There is something for which we should hunger:

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (Psalms 34:8 KJV)

Our thirst should be for Him, too:

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. (Psalms 42:1 KJV)

I am bothered that Eve, walking with our Lord in the garden in the cool of the evening, traded that for the taste of forbidden fruit. It bothers me more that I see others doing it still - and that I have done the same.