SOLOMON'S WEALTH, NO. ADAM'S SIN, YES: WHY ?

By Kalu Peter | Aba, Abia State 

For centuries, humanity has wrestled with some of the deepest questions of existence. Among them is the idea of inherited sin and inherited blessings. In Sunday schools, pulpits, and catechism classes, many of us were told that Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, and by that sin, every human being is born under the shadow of guilt. It became a doctrine, the doctrine of "original sin."

On the other hand, in the same Bible, we read about Solomon, the son of David, who was considered the wisest and one of the wealthiest men to ever live. His wisdom, riches, and glory were beyond imagination. Yet, no one ever told us we inherited Solomon’s wealth. No preacher said, “Because Solomon was rich, you too are born rich.”

Adam and Eve at the garden of Eden

This apparent contradiction raises a burning question: Why do we inherit Adam’s sin but not Solomon’s wealth? Why the negative and not the positive?

This article explores this puzzle through biblical, theological, philosophical, and practical lenses. It also touches on the implications for our lives today, making it a profound discussion about fairness, divine justice, and human destiny.

The Doctrine of Adam’s Sin

The story of Adam and Eve is central to the Christian worldview. According to Genesis 3, Adam disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit. This act is often called “the fall of man.”

The Apostle Paul later explains it in Romans 5:12:
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—"

This passage has been interpreted to mean that humanity inherited Adam’s sinful nature. Babies are born innocent in action but not free from the "fallen nature." This doctrine gave birth to practices such as infant baptism, meant to "wash away" original sin.

In other words, sin became a collective inheritance. The wrongdoing of one man created consequences for the entire human race.

But here is the paradox: If we inherited Adam’s sin, why don’t we also inherit Solomon’s wealth?

On the other hand, Solomon the son of David and Bathsheba, was a man uniquely blessed by God. In 1 Kings 3, he asked God for wisdom instead of riches or long life. Pleased with his request, God gave him wisdom unmatched in history. But along with wisdom, God also gave him unimaginable wealth.

Solomon the richest man ever lived 

The Bible records that:

• Solomon’s annual income was about 666 talents of gold (roughly 22 tons).
• He had fleets of trading ships bringing treasures from across the world.
• His palace and the temple of Jerusalem were coated in gold.
• Silver was as common as stones in Jerusalem during his reign.

Solomon became a symbol of God’s material blessing upon a person. Yet, despite all this, we do not find any verse that tells us his children or the generations after him automatically inherited his wisdom or wealth. In fact, after his death, his son Rehoboam made poor decisions, and the kingdom split into two.

So, while sin seemed inheritable, Solomon’s wealth was not transferable to all humanity.

Why Sin and Not Wealth?

This dilemma is not just theological—it is also moral and philosophical. If God is fair, why allow the transmission of Adam’s curse but not Solomon’s blessing? Why let us inherit corruption and mortality but not wisdom and riches?

Let’s break down possible explanations.

The Nature of Sin vs. Wealth

Sin, according to theology, is not just an action but a nature. It is a spiritual condition that affects the human heart, passed down like a corrupted DNA. Wealth, however, is external. It is material and bound to a specific time, culture, and context.

Thus, theologians argue:

• Sin spreads universally because it is tied to human nature.
• Wealth does not spread universally because it is tied to environment, economy, and human management.

In simpler terms, sin is a condition of the soul, while wealth is a condition of circumstances.

Consequences vs. Rewards

Another perspective is that sin brought a universal consequence, death. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Death is a universal reality. Everyone dies, regardless of location or generation.

But wealth is a reward, not a consequence. Rewards are not inherited by all—they are specific to the one who earned them. Solomon’s riches were for his time and his management. His mismanagement later, and the foolishness of his successors, caused much of that wealth to scatter.

So the reasoning becomes:

• Consequences are inherited.
• Rewards are personal.

Divine Justice and the Test of Free Will

There’s also the argument of divine justice. If we all inherited Solomon’s wealth, what would be the meaning of free will, hard work, and personal responsibility? Life would lose balance. Everyone would be born wealthy, and poverty would cease to exist.

While that sounds good, it removes the principle of choice, stewardship, and diligence. The book of Proverbs, attributed mostly to Solomon, emphasizes hard work, discipline, and wisdom as keys to wealth.

In other words, wealth is not meant to be inherited universally but pursued individually.

The Spiritual vs. the Physical

Sin operates in the spiritual dimension. It affects the soul, and thus it transcends time, geography, and bloodlines.

Wealth operates in the physical dimension. It is subject to economy, wars, trade, theft, and inflation. A man can be wealthy today and bankrupt tomorrow. Therefore, wealth does not have the eternal or universal transferability that sin does.

The Christ Connection

Christian theology offers another explanation:
Adam’s sin was inherited, but so was Christ’s righteousness.

Romans 5:18 says:
"Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people."

This suggests that while Adam’s sin fell upon all, Christ’s sacrifice also opened the door for all to inherit forgiveness and eternal life.

So, in a way, God balanced the scale:

• Adam gave us sin.
• Christ gives us salvation.

Solomon’s wealth, though grand, was not meant to be eternal. It fades. But the righteousness of Christ is portrayed as eternal inheritance.

Philosophical Reflections

The paradox still raises deeper reflections:

• On Fairness: Is it fair to inherit sin but not wealth? Some argue it is not. Others argue fairness lies in the gift of free will and redemption through Christ.

• On Human Responsibility: Perhaps we were not meant to inherit Solomon’s riches because human destiny is to build, create, and multiply wealth through effort, wisdom, and innovation. If all wealth were inherited, humanity might never invent, work, or progress.

• On Legacy: Solomon’s story warns us that wealth without continuity or discipline dies quickly. His riches did not last beyond him because legacy requires management, not just possession.

Practical Implications for Our Lives Today

What does this mean for us in the modern world?

1. Wealth Must Be Built, Not Assumed
   Just as Solomon’s children did not automatically inherit all his wisdom and wealth, we must accept that prosperity is built by choices, discipline, and creativity.

2. Sin Is Real but Not Final
   While we may carry Adam’s fallen nature, we also carry the ability to choose righteousness, goodness, and redemption through Christ.

3. Focus on What Can Be Inherited
   Even though we may not inherit riches, we can inherit values—discipline, knowledge, wisdom, and integrity. These can produce wealth in every generation.

4. Redefining Inheritance
   True inheritance is not only money but also principles, knowledge, and spirituality. That is why families that pass on education and discipline often remain strong even when money fades.

So why Adam’s sin but not Solomon’s wealth ?

The answer lies in the difference between nature and circumstance, consequence and reward, spiritual inheritance and material inheritance. Sin, being universal, became humanity’s inheritance. Wealth, being circumstantial, remained personal.

Yet, the story does not end with Adam or Solomon. It ends with Christ, who offers humanity a greater inheritance than gold or silver: righteousness, eternal life, and the power to build one’s destiny.

We may not inherit Solomon’s riches, but we inherit the potential to create, innovate, and multiply wealth in our own time. And while Adam’s sin cast a shadow, Christ’s light offers a way forward.

In the end, the paradox pushes us to reflect, question, and take responsibility: Sin is inherited, but wealth must be created.