In one sense we can blame God for the temptation of Eve. God made our hearts “restless” as St. Augustine put it. So even though she seemed to have everything — a suitable helpmeet, a garden of delights, and good enough weather to go around naked! — her restless heart asked “is that all there is?” The serpent, the tempter, played on that restlessness to get her to grasp after what she didn’t have instead of rejoicing in what she did have. All our temptations are a repeat of the first. Thus, the cure for temptation is gratitude. When we thank God for how blessed we are then we can resist the hankering for something more. Then God will fill our restless hearts with the divine presence.
