I don’t know any person who does not want to be blessed, happy, fortunate, and prosperous; however, I know many people who attempt to do so by listening and following ungodly advice. Eve “walked” in the counsel of the ungodly in the garden. Genesis 3:4-6 says:
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 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.
Eve was tempted in the garden because she listened to Satan. She sinned in the garden after she pondered what he said to her. She believed the lie, and finally acted on it. I always find it interesting to read that Eve saw that the fruit was “desirable for gaining wisdom.” I believe she thought that because Satan told her if she ate of it she would be “like God knowing good and evil.” Where do you go to find wisdom? Eve went to a source God told her NOT to go to.
Imagine what may have happened if she had chosen not to listen to Satan. Or imagine what may have happened if she had chosen to not ponder on that counsel and believe it, but had run to God instead. After she disobeyed God she gave the fruit to Adam and he ate it. Then together they hid from God.
Do you ever find yourself trying to “hide” from God?
Today, we can try to “hide” from God by avoiding our more “godly” friends, not attending church, stopping our bible study or devotionals and disregarding prayer time.
Do you ever find that when you choose to disobey God that you seek company in your disobedience?
I think it is interesting that Eve “gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.” Ultimately, Eve followed the counsel of the ungodly, then offered the fruit of disobedience to her husband.
Psalm 1:1-3 below shares with us the four things we need to focus on if we want to thrive.
Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly (following their advice, their plans and purposes), nor stands (submissive and inactive) in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down (to relax and rest) where the scornful (and the mockers) gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. And he shall be like a tree firmly planted (and tended) by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper (and come to maturity.)- Psalm 1:1-3 Amplified Version
1. Delight and Desire the law of the Lord
2. Habitually Meditate: Ponder and study God’s Word and instructions.
3. Believe: Believe and agree with the teachings you have meditated on.
4. Act: Live it out! You will be like a tree firmly planted…and everything you do shall prosper.
Where do you go for counsel and direction? Who do you call when you have a difficult decision to make? Are you listening to ungodly counsel if any areas of your life?
Written by Jamie Shaver