LUST

Definition:

Lust is defined as deep desire, especially an intense sexual desire or appetite, often uncontrolled. It can also speak of an ardent enthusiasm or zest for life, yearning or desire, strong craving.

Brief Explanation:

 It has been said that hate is the opposite of love; but in many ways, lust is. That is, lust is to desire something good, made by God, in an illegitimate way. To lust is to so deeply desire or want something, especially of a sexual nature, that it overwhelms the normal senses of right and wrong.

From a Christian viewpoint, we accept the sinner as they are, but not the sin. The proper response to lust, as former President Jimmy Carter said, “in my heart” is repentance, and to turn to God for his love and the love of others in appropriate expression. Many men and women suffer deeply due to the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and are in need of deep healing that begins with understanding Gods’ ways of healing and restoration found in His word. Again, one of the gifts a counselor or pastor can bring to the counseling relationship is true love demonstrated appropriately, for the benefit of the other, by establishing an environment of empathy, warmth, respect and trust between the client and the counselor. (For more on the Four Loves, see Dr. Ken Chant’s Christian Life: Patterns of Gracious Living.)

The Word of God:

Proverbs 6:25

“Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; Neither let her take thee with her eyelids.”

Matthew 5:28

“But, I say unto you, that every one that looks on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

Romans 1:27

“And likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.”

1 Corinthians 10:6

“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”

Galatians 5:16, 17

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do things that ye would.”

Ephesians 2:3

“Among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”

James 1:14, 15

“But each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it hath conceived, bears sin: and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.”

1 Peter 2:11

“Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul.”

1 Peter 2:10

“But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities.”

1 John 2:16, 17

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abides forever.”