What does the Bible say about lust? In some ways, we cannot keep the birds flying over our heads—but

Lust is the sin of excessive appetites, not only for sex—though the term often connotes this—but any form of earthly pleasure. It also encompasses all “excessive” love of others; excessive, in this case, means leading to a failure to love God. Lust is a self-destructive drive for sensations “of this world” and opposes itself to the traditional virtue of self-control. The extreme pursuit of power or wealth, though implicated in other sins like greed, can also be considered a form of lust.

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Lust has as its focus pleasing oneself, and it often leads to unwholesome actions to fulfill one's desires with no regard to the consequences. Lust is about possession and greed. The Christian faith is about selflessness and is marked by holy living (Romans 6:19, 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30, 6:19-20; Ephesians 1:4, 4:24; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, 5:23; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16). The goal of each person who has put his/her faith in Jesus Christ is to become more and more like Him each day. This means putting off the old way of life of which sin was in control, and conforming one's thoughts and actions to the standard put forth in Scripture. Lust is in opposition to this ideal. Nobody will ever be perfect or attain sinlessness while still on this earth, yet it is still a goal for which we strive. The Bible makes a very strong statement regarding this in 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8, "For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit." If lust has not yet gripped your heart and mind, ready yourself through a life lived above reproach to combat the temptations of lust. If you currently struggle with lust, it is time to come clean before God and ask for His intervention in your life, so that holiness can be a mark of your life as well.

Like gluttony, lust allows a soul unable to confront the reality of life with a brief escape. Indulge in lust, and all of life’s troubles and worries disappear for a moment—only to reappear again unchanged, and with one’s soul in a state of peril. Like many sins, lust is often not fallen into because it is somehow awful and hurts; no, it offers us something, and we think we benefit from it. Similar to taking drugs—no one would do drugs if there was not some kind of benefit that, at the time, they thought outweighed the risk. In this case, lust offers that high, seemingly without any responsibility, worry, or effect.

The reality, of course, is much different. Indulging in lust of any kind has a kind of hollowing-out effect on the soul—it sells the person out for all they are worth, simply in order to feel good for a little while. Such is the desperation of our age, and the human condition. We want to feel good at any cost, and to openly deny oneself the pleasures of lust for a higher cause is looked upon as some form of insanity.

The sin of lust was first originated from the garden of Eden. Eve heart was enticed for the purpose of wisdom. She craved for knowledge, as a result, her heart got lusted over her desire for wisdom, which eventually leads to the falls of man. And yet, many Christians are possessed by the same enticement, causing them to lust after worldly things that perished without knowing they are trapped by the deadly sin of lust.

People have mortgaged their children’s future and sold their destinies because of lust for a person or lust for the things in this world. Certain things are no longer bought for their utility and durability; They are now being bought to fulfill fleshly lusts to ‘show off’ wealth, position, power and influence. Lusts range from lust for shoes, for cars, for jewelries, for bags, for clothes, for computer gadgets, for position, for titles, for fame, for respect from others, for achievement in order to show-off to friends and former school mates, for "designer" items, to even lust for food.

When people are NOT content with just having the basics in quality and in quantity, they crave for so much more to fuel their lust for respect, power and influence. Those who lust for cars are not satisfied with just one or two; they want a whole garage of 10 or more exotic cars.

They wildly imagine that they could get cars manufactured from "out of this world". Houses are now being built on the sea; the dry land seems too ordinary and cheap for them. People now take huge bank loans to organize flamboyant weddings or to travel overseas on vacation. Their lust drives them into the wildest of imaginations. Others because of lust for fame may imagine organizing their wedding in the sky or at the cliff of the tallest height in the world.

Lust is a wild eater and eats anything and everything that comes its way. The media (television, radio, advertisements, and internet) have also been used as a channel through which the spirit of lust can easily communicate with its victims.

Young people are no longer interested in formal education because they are continually fed with the extravagant lifestyles of entertainers and television celebrities. Most youths nurse the secret strong desire of becoming very wealthy and famous in order to live out such lifestyles too.

The media makes them believe that all the wealth can be found in athletics, music, acting, Satanism, various forms of entertainment, etc. So, they are most times, glued to television, especially cable TV, and the internet watching the extravagant lifestyles of these celebrities. It is either they fulfill their lust by stealing, by cheating, or even by killing to get the resources required. They are slowly indoctrinated with the "get rich quick," “why sweat and get stressed,” operation “quick quick” philosophies. Almost everything you watch on through the various media forms is born out of someone’s lust and will definitely breed lust in the viewers and hearers.

Even some so-called Christian programs are not left out, because all they talk about is prosperity, fame and world influence. Most gospel preachers started as not-too-wealthy holiness preachers but when money began to come in, the holiness messages "flew out of the window" and gave way for only prosperity, faith and world influence messages. They have totally forgotten about the rapture, about holiness, about the coming judgments of God upon this sinful world, about the reality of heaven and hell.

Desire is so normal that we might feel a measure of guilt for any desire we might have. We need not do this because God created us with the ability to have desires, and He pronounced it very good (Genesis 1:31). Through desire we accomplish our goals. Paul exhorts the brethren to "earnestly desire the best gifts" of God (1 Corinthians 12:31). David writes that God Himself desires "truth in the inward parts" of men (Psalm 51:6).

Desire means "a strong yearning." However, some desires are destructive, and these the Bible usually calls "lusts." These desires are often shown as cravings for satisfaction of the physical appetites (for example; food, alcohol, sex, money, pleasure). Paul tells Timothy, "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22). Though Scripture speaks of desire in both a good and an evil sense, believers recognize that they can have evil desires, turn from them when they arise, and pursue after what is good.

Desire is also seen in context with power. Some have a passion to be number one, to compete, to dominate, to assert their will, and to have control. Such an attitude frequently produces envy and contention. Others passionately pursue possessions and the glory associated with owning them.

Do not be deceived into assuming that these worldly desires are all somewhat animalistic and basic. They also include the more refined passions of pride (such as for academic acclaim), social status, and inordinate ambition. As Colossians 3:5 instructs, a desire taken beyond what is lawful is simply idolatry through which we gratify our carnality. The Bible gives several examples of evil desire leading to more sin:

• Achan desired silver, gold and a beautiful Babylonian garment, and he stole them despite knowing that they had been devoted to the Lord. Not only was he killed as a result of his coveting, but his sons, daughters, oxen, asses, and sheep also died. Even his tent was buried along with them (Joshua 7:18-26)! It also led to the death of 36 Israelite soldiers at Ai (v. 1-5).

• Abimelech desired the prestige of the throne, and he murdered seventy times to get it (Judges 9:1-5).

• David desired Bathsheba, leading him to commit adultery and then murder (2 Samuel 11:1-27).

• Ahab desired the vineyard of Naboth, and it led him and Jezebel to compound that sin by lying, then taking God's name in vain and murder (1 Kings 21:1-19).

Predatory thought leads to predatory action. The evidence is clear: Breaking the tenth commandment sets off a chain reaction that consumes others and the self before its effect dissipates.

We must amputate the desire so the sin will never become an act, and then we will remain pure, as will the object of our desire. Imagination is a wonderful gift from God, but if fed dirt by the eye, the imagination can easily become impure.

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WHAT DO YOU THINK? We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Bible. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, "Jesus is Lord," you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.

What is your response?

• Yes, today I am deciding to follow Jesus!

Here is a suggested prayer. This is not a ritual based on specific words, but rather a prayerful guideline for your sincere step of faith:

"Father, I know that I have broken Your laws and my sins have separated me from You. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward You. Please forgive me, and help me turn away from sin. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."

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