In general, God created
men to be more accomplishment-oriented and women to be more
relationship-oriented. This is why Adam’s primary commission from God was in
the area of labor and accomplishment – to cultivate and keep the garden of Eden
(Genesis 2:15). Eve’s primary commission was in the area of relationships, as a
helper and partner to her husband (Genesis 2:18).
Correspondingly, when
mankind fell to sin, Adam and Eve’s curses were also related to labor and
relationships. For Adam, the ground was cursed so his labor would become
toilsome. For Eve, God multiplied her pain in childbirth and warned her about
the effect of sin on her marriage (Genesis 3:16-19).
Of course, men also have
a relational side and women also esteem labor and accomplishments. This speaks
of our primary orientations, not our only orientations.
Adam’s Labor
Before the fall, both the
environment and Adam’s mental and physical abilities were flawless. His labor
would have been unimaginably fulfilling, marked by fluid creativity and
innovation. Over time, he would have experienced success after success, his influence
always expanding, like a career path that goes from one plateau to another.
As the population grew,
all people would have used their unique gifts and abilities and labored
harmoniously alongside one another. Adam and his descendants would have built
homes, cities, technologies, and governing/organizational structures completely
devoid of sinful influence.
There would have been an
abundance of every kind of valuable good and service. No one would have worried
about how to survive. The earth would have been far beyond any conception of
utopia fallen mankind has contrived.
After the fall, Adam’s
labor became a frustrating struggle. He faced opposition from the environment
and diminished mental and physical abilities. He faced setbacks, injuries, and
confusing problems with no solution.
As the population grew,
people frequently worked against one another, vying for position, ruled by
selfish motives. Leaders enslaved and dominated others. People toiled to make
ends meet and worried about the future. There was poverty, starvation, and violent
conflicts over valuable resources.
Eve’s Relationships
Without sin, Eve’s
relationships with her husband, children, and others would have been completely
pure. She would have given herself to her husband unreservedly. She would have
been delighted to help him because she knew he always had her best interests at
heart. She would never have questioned his motives or worried he might try to
dominate her. She would never have felt jealous because she knew his romantic
desire was for her alone. She would have felt no compulsion to control him
because she knew he perfectly relied on God’s grace to lead their family.
She would have freely
poured out love and wisdom into her children. She would have watched her
beautiful legacy expand to grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and on and on.
Her family line would have been forever devoid of pain, fear, or grief.
After the fall, Adam and
Eve’s marriage was distorted by sin. Pain and distrust crept in. Just as God
warned (Genesis 3:16), Eve was prone to idolizing Adam, looking more to him for
her sense of value and security than to God. This caused her to often feel
jealous and insecure.
Also, as God warned, Adam
was prone to ruling over Eve from selfish motives (Genesis 3:16). This caused
her to become fearful about how he led their family.
She also experienced
multiplied pain in childbirth, which paralleled the pain she experienced in
their spiritual development. She saw her children rebel, hurt one another,
develop addictions, and cause her heavy grief.
Hope for the Future
This contrast between
what is and what could have been can honestly be really sad and heavy to think
about, but the good news is that for those of us who know Jesus Christ,
everything that mankind lost by rebelling against God will one day be
recovered.
We will spend eternity as
part of God’s eternal family enjoying pure, fulfilling relationships. And we
will labor and accomplish incredible things working side by side in a perfectly
restored new heavens and new earth. This
is the wonderful hope and the redemption that Jesus Christ purchased for
mankind on the cross. This is our future.