He was the richest, most powerful man in the world. His wife was gorgeous; beautiful beyond description. Everyone knew she was made for him. For years people have commented about the first time he ever laid eyes on her. They say it was love at first sight.
Yes, they were quite the couple.
He lacked nothing, nothing at all. If and when he ever needed anything, all he needed to do was speak, and his request was granted.
His influence was legendary, commanding respect. Known as a “world changer”, his pioneering spirit brought changes to such things as real estate, farming, animal husbandry, mining, fishing, parenting, religion, meteorology, and, of course, marriage.
He had it all. All but one thing.
That one thing was his undoing, his downfall.
He couldn’t stay away from it! He’d think about it constantly, looking for an excuse to walk by it, smell its fragrance, behold its shape, and etch its image forever in his mind.
He knew, deep down, things weren’t quite right. But he couldn’t stop. The voice, the calling, the attraction was becoming an obsession! Though he knew he could lose everything he had, it didn’t matter.
Finally, he reached the point of no return, and gave in to his passion.
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6 ESV)
No matter who we are, or how “powerful” and influential we think we may be, there will always be something “off limits”. Something we must not touch. Something we must not dwell on.
A thing, a person, a habit, a lust. Something we must stay clear of, or else our world will come crashing down
None of us are so high and mighty we can’t find our way from riches to rags.
It only takes one bite!
Jan Grace 
2 responses to “Riches To Rags”
Looking at the story this way dispels the lie that we tell ourselves that “if we only had the perfect spouse, the perfect job, enough money, a better house” we would be truly happy and contented. When we are discontent something within us always screams, “More! More!” and we find ourselves unable to be satisfied. When we intentionally practice the discipline of contentment we remind ourselves, “In Christ, I have everything that I need and it is enough.” Contentment makes poor men rich and discontentment makes rich men poor…ever since time began.
LikeLike
Amen.
LikeLike