When Adam transgressed, he affected and infected all that would come after him. When God created man, He did so after His own likeness (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 5:1), but when Adam bore a son after the fall, the Bible says that Adam “begat a son in his own likeness” (Genesis 5:3). Adam’s sin came with dire consequences experienced by all. All those born of Adam’s seed bear Adam’s image (1 Corinthians 15:47-49) and the Bible points out that “in Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:22). At the same time, no man faces the eternal judgment of God for bearing Adam’s image, but he does so based upon his own practice of sin and refusal to accept God’s free gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Most people have heard the familiar cliché that "money can't buy you happiness." In fact, the greatest treasures of life cannot be purchased at all. Yet, accumulating treasures and eating the finest of foods are the prized possessions of life for far too many people. The Bible says that these things fade away in comparison to the spiritual blessings derived from a life devoted to the Lord. In fact, nothing in this world compares to a healthy, biblical fear of the Lord. The love and peace possessed by faithful Christians offers lasting fulfillment while the combined riches of the world simply flee away. When a man fears God, combined with the love of those around him, a dinner of herbs (unsatisfying to the discontented) satisfies his appetite while the blessings of God satisfy him wholly. The Bible repeatedly declares spiritual blessings far superior to any worldly possessions. Men would be wise to choose God's blessings over the world's accolades.
A balanced life should be the quest of every believer, especially as it relates to material possessions. Proverbs 30:7-9 describes the heartfelt desire of avoiding extremes. The man expresses his two requests to the Lord: not to be rich and not to be poor. Most people have no desire for the latter but would love to be showered in riches with need of nothing. Yet, Agur in the book of Proverbs provides wise reasons for desiring neither extreme. He feared that being rich would tempt him to forget the Lord. Yet, being poor might cause him to steal and thus take the name of God in vain. His desire focused rather on one necessity and that involved feeding him with food convenient for him.
