The Problem: Pride and Selfishness
Scripture is full of admonitions against selfishness and the dangers of pride. Satan's fall and ruin was due to his own sin of pride (see Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-17). Paul even referenced the danger of pride and conceit when he spoke of the danger of new converts becoming spiritual leaders (1 Tim. 3:6). Numerous warnings in Proverbs also speak to the danger of pride or selfishness. For example we find these statements in Scripture: "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom" (Prov. 11:2). "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18). "One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor" (Prov. 29:23). Clearly the Lord speaks of the dangers of pride and how it can destroy a person.
This seems to fit with how Adam destroyed his life, his woman's life, and all of humanity to follow. Therefore, let us examine this in regard to the first family and see if this idea above fits, then we can wrap all of this in a workable whole as to how it applies to you and your modern day love union with your woman or women. In the Garden of Eden Adam lived with his helpmate Eve. Though some liberals and speculative theologians over the years have tried to creatively manipulate the story into fanciful accounts I shall stick to the basics as to what God gave to us. The story was intended to give to us a basic account by Moses as to the origins of world history and why sin existed. The Mosaic account was not intended to give an elaborate and comprehensive teaching on every aspect of life in the Garden. The characters involved in the story were God, Adam as the head, Eve as his helpmate, and Satan, through a serpent, who was in the Garden. With these four main characters the scene unfolds and we can see how sin developed. Taking the chronological data from the book of James back to the Garden of Eden scene we can see how sin took root and was birthed through Adam. By this study we can then see how men still do this today and ruin their own families in similar matter today. Translating straight from the Greek language here the text in James 1:14-15 says: "Each man is tempted by his own desires when lured and enticed; then desire once conceived births sin, and sin fully formed brings forth death."
I also like the Young's Literal Translation which says, "and each one is tempted, by his own desires being led away and enticed, afterward the desire having conceived, doth give birth to sin, and the sin having been perfected, doth bring forth death." The idea behind this is that there is a process or a sequential flow to how sin forms in the heart and comes forth in action. Just like with the conception of a child there is a process. It takes the union of the sperm and egg for life to begin and from that point it manifests itself with an implantation in the womb and subsequent birth.
Likewise, it takes the union of natural desires along with a counter productive temptation to birth sin. Then when that sin manifests itself in action it brings forth death through some action. In this study here the proposal is this: Adam had a natural desire to be with Eve as he loved her. He wanted to provide, care for, and lead her. He desired to function as the head. Yet when Eve was overtaken through deception (see 1 Tim. 2:14 where Paul said the woman was deceived but not the man), and then when she confronted Adam with the temptation to go along with her in eating the forbidden fruit, Adam's desire to lead met with Satan's temptation to lead through self and thus when these two elements merged Adam acted in unbelief towards God, trust/belief towards self (thinking he could handle it himself), and thus pride was born that came forth in an actual act of rebellion.
Practical Application and Summary
Pride and selfishness, or selfishness and pride, whichever order ones places it, is as old as history itself. Many men ruin their lives and families by not being wise enough nor strong enough to ask for help in their time of need or struggle. Many unions crumble and many families fall apart because men seek to do it their own way; they seek and desire to be independent of others around them as if that is a sign of strength when in reality it is a sign of sin and weakness. Real men are those who see what the first man did, compare that to Christ and his actions, and seek to rely upon God's word with the aid of both the Spirit and others around him who can give encouragement and strength in the time of need.
Men are by nature rulers, conquerors, and by design created to lead. This in and of itself is healthy. But when problems arise, especially relational problems like Adam had in regard to Eve's actions, a man would be wise and indeed acting in strength when he asks for help when dealing with something that is new or deeply troubling. It is when a man seeks to act independently that he so often ruins himself and the ones around him that he loves most. Men need others around them for counsel so that the inner drive to lead and rule does not drift into a rule and leadership that is abusive, sinful, or imbalanced. No man can win the war against sin and against the forces of evil by himself. No man can lead his family with great grace and efficiency without learning at times from others who have insight and valuable information on how to live and act in the union.
There are times when the aid and counsel are needed for the family to overcome a heavy weight. Sometimes when the problem is severe enough it even requires others to come in to confront and help the family members through the problem. Sometimes it takes righteous peer pressure from several people who are called upon to help to look in the eye of the one in sin to rebuke, instruct, and encourage towards righteousness (see Matt. 18:15-20; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Many men though capitulate to fear because they are self-centered and unwilling to ask for help. The pride ruling in the heart makes them think asking for help is a sign of weakness when in reality is truly is a sign of strength, courage, and wisdom to ask for help in order to avoid catastrophic results such as the death of a union because sin has been left unchecked and unresolved in the hearts.
To overcome this temptation that leads to ruin a man walking in the Spirit will form relational bonds with other men who he can talk to, whom he trust, and whom he call upon when in a time of need spiritually and or physically. A man, when in step with the Spirit, will value insight and wisdom from others around him who can give objective, honest, and biblical feedback as he seeks to lead and guide his family towards righteousness. More than not, those men who see a problem and they do not have a way to resolve it readily and thus go seeking to find answers in how to fix it from trusted resources who are able to give help are those men with successful, blissful, and stable families where love is flourishing.
Scripture is full of admonitions against selfishness and the dangers of pride. Satan's fall and ruin was due to his own sin of pride (see Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-17). Paul even referenced the danger of pride and conceit when he spoke of the danger of new converts becoming spiritual leaders (1 Tim. 3:6). Numerous warnings in Proverbs also speak to the danger of pride or selfishness. For example we find these statements in Scripture: "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom" (Prov. 11:2). "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18). "One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor" (Prov. 29:23). Clearly the Lord speaks of the dangers of pride and how it can destroy a person.
This seems to fit with how Adam destroyed his life, his woman's life, and all of humanity to follow. Therefore, let us examine this in regard to the first family and see if this idea above fits, then we can wrap all of this in a workable whole as to how it applies to you and your modern day love union with your woman or women. In the Garden of Eden Adam lived with his helpmate Eve. Though some liberals and speculative theologians over the years have tried to creatively manipulate the story into fanciful accounts I shall stick to the basics as to what God gave to us. The story was intended to give to us a basic account by Moses as to the origins of world history and why sin existed. The Mosaic account was not intended to give an elaborate and comprehensive teaching on every aspect of life in the Garden. The characters involved in the story were God, Adam as the head, Eve as his helpmate, and Satan, through a serpent, who was in the Garden. With these four main characters the scene unfolds and we can see how sin developed. Taking the chronological data from the book of James back to the Garden of Eden scene we can see how sin took root and was birthed through Adam. By this study we can then see how men still do this today and ruin their own families in similar matter today. Translating straight from the Greek language here the text in James 1:14-15 says: "Each man is tempted by his own desires when lured and enticed; then desire once conceived births sin, and sin fully formed brings forth death."
I also like the Young's Literal Translation which says, "and each one is tempted, by his own desires being led away and enticed, afterward the desire having conceived, doth give birth to sin, and the sin having been perfected, doth bring forth death." The idea behind this is that there is a process or a sequential flow to how sin forms in the heart and comes forth in action. Just like with the conception of a child there is a process. It takes the union of the sperm and egg for life to begin and from that point it manifests itself with an implantation in the womb and subsequent birth.
Likewise, it takes the union of natural desires along with a counter productive temptation to birth sin. Then when that sin manifests itself in action it brings forth death through some action. In this study here the proposal is this: Adam had a natural desire to be with Eve as he loved her. He wanted to provide, care for, and lead her. He desired to function as the head. Yet when Eve was overtaken through deception (see 1 Tim. 2:14 where Paul said the woman was deceived but not the man), and then when she confronted Adam with the temptation to go along with her in eating the forbidden fruit, Adam's desire to lead met with Satan's temptation to lead through self and thus when these two elements merged Adam acted in unbelief towards God, trust/belief towards self (thinking he could handle it himself), and thus pride was born that came forth in an actual act of rebellion.
Practical Application and Summary
Pride and selfishness, or selfishness and pride, whichever order ones places it, is as old as history itself. Many men ruin their lives and families by not being wise enough nor strong enough to ask for help in their time of need or struggle. Many unions crumble and many families fall apart because men seek to do it their own way; they seek and desire to be independent of others around them as if that is a sign of strength when in reality it is a sign of sin and weakness. Real men are those who see what the first man did, compare that to Christ and his actions, and seek to rely upon God's word with the aid of both the Spirit and others around him who can give encouragement and strength in the time of need.
Men are by nature rulers, conquerors, and by design created to lead. This in and of itself is healthy. But when problems arise, especially relational problems like Adam had in regard to Eve's actions, a man would be wise and indeed acting in strength when he asks for help when dealing with something that is new or deeply troubling. It is when a man seeks to act independently that he so often ruins himself and the ones around him that he loves most. Men need others around them for counsel so that the inner drive to lead and rule does not drift into a rule and leadership that is abusive, sinful, or imbalanced. No man can win the war against sin and against the forces of evil by himself. No man can lead his family with great grace and efficiency without learning at times from others who have insight and valuable information on how to live and act in the union.
There are times when the aid and counsel are needed for the family to overcome a heavy weight. Sometimes when the problem is severe enough it even requires others to come in to confront and help the family members through the problem. Sometimes it takes righteous peer pressure from several people who are called upon to help to look in the eye of the one in sin to rebuke, instruct, and encourage towards righteousness (see Matt. 18:15-20; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Many men though capitulate to fear because they are self-centered and unwilling to ask for help. The pride ruling in the heart makes them think asking for help is a sign of weakness when in reality is truly is a sign of strength, courage, and wisdom to ask for help in order to avoid catastrophic results such as the death of a union because sin has been left unchecked and unresolved in the hearts.
To overcome this temptation that leads to ruin a man walking in the Spirit will form relational bonds with other men who he can talk to, whom he trust, and whom he call upon when in a time of need spiritually and or physically. A man, when in step with the Spirit, will value insight and wisdom from others around him who can give objective, honest, and biblical feedback as he seeks to lead and guide his family towards righteousness. More than not, those men who see a problem and they do not have a way to resolve it readily and thus go seeking to find answers in how to fix it from trusted resources who are able to give help are those men with successful, blissful, and stable families where love is flourishing.