No Free Lunch: Economics for a Fallen World: Third Edition, Revised

Chapter One: Introduction to Economics 11 commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Adam’s stewardship responsibilities are initially manifest in the Garden. Interestingly, God not only planted trees for food but also for beauty. God is the creator of beauty and art, and He shares this with us. Is there any masterpiece as beautiful as one that God paints in the evening sky? God delights to create beauty and display His glory to us. We are His image-bearers, and we likewise desire to make beautiful things. In v9, God implicitly introduces the concept of choice—two trees, two paths. The path is spelled out more clearly in vv 16-17, where Adam is told that he may eat freely of any tree, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This choice is fundamentally about obedience, and obedience flows out of the recognition of dependence—who we are, and who God is. Would Adam choose to obey, and trust God and what has said? Or would he reach out to “ do what was right in his own eyes?” Adam’s choice illustrates the concept of ethical cause and effect: Do this and live, or do this and die. Many of our choices seem trivial, such as what color of shirt will I wear today? Yet even choices such as these can have ethical impact: why do I choose one over the other? Am I choosing with a thankful and grateful heart? Am I considering how my attire might bring glory to God or shame to me? For Adam, his command was to “cultivate and keep” the garden. The Hebrew term for “cultivate” (` abad ) means to work, serve or dress. The image is one of a careful gardener pruning a vine to ensure it grows to full potential. This is intended to be careful labor on behalf of the master. The other term, “keep” (Hebrew transliteration shamar ) means to guard, observe, or to give heed, which suggests we must preserve and protect creation as a watchful servant. As we will see in chapter three, the garden will have threats that careful watch will avoid. GENESIS 3 GENESIS 3:1, 6-7, 17-19 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 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 desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life. “Both thorns and thistles