Reject Passivity
Reject Passivity
Then the woman . . . took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. (Gen. 3:6)
Sinful Onlooker
If you grew up in the church, you’ve probably seen the flannel-graph scene of Eve being tempted by the serpent. As the snake slithers down the beautifully fruited tree, Eve looks mesmerized by Satan’s temptations. We all know what happens next: Eve eats the fruit. But that picture of Eve standing alone with the serpent might not be accurate—Adam was right there with her. He wasn’t out naming animals or hunting down dinner. According to Genesis 3:6, “[Eve] took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” When Eve was being tempted, Adam didn’t step up and stop her.
Get in the Action
Adam could’ve knocked away the forbidden fruit before it ever touched her lips. Even better, he could’ve grabbed a stick and stabbed the serpent until his forked tongue lay limp. Instead Adam, “who was with her,” stood back and did nothing as sin entered the world.
As men, we can’t follow Adam’s example. We need to set standards and protect our families from harmful influences. Experts say it’s natural for men to shirk responsibilities. But God doesn’t want us to live according to “natural” inclinations; He wants us to live supernaturally—motivated to protect and be involved with our families.
Bottom Line
God wants you to be active in protecting your family. Embrace that responsibility.