Lust

 

When the topic of lust comes up, the problem is usually placed squarely upon men’s shoulders. Lust is a man-issue and not just a male-issue.

The truth is, we all have a problem with lust, as women also indulge in the perversion of love.

Ephesians 5:3 (MSG) says,

Don’t allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity…

So, we hear the word lust and immediately our minds think of unrestrained sexual cravings, and it’s true that lust is frequently associated with sexual desire so, that’s understandable but do you know that lust refers to much more than that?

As verse 3 to 4 go on to say, filthy practices, or bullying greed. Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, those who follow Jesus have better uses for language than that. Don’t talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn’t fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect.

A single blog post can never thoroughly cover the gamut of lust. You see, lust is indeed an intense craving but it’s not confined to the sexual. We can lust after anything; we can have unbridled urges for something other than sex. But no matter what form these lustful passions may take, they all interfere with our relationship with God.

For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God]. – Ephesians 5:5 (AMP)

Nothing and no-one are to be placed before God; He must be first. Overcome by lust, our passion is misplaced. Whatever is lusted after holds such a place of honour in our lives, that even when we know what’s best, we stubbornly refuse to let it go.  

Our obsession is more important to us than God; it becomes our god.

God said, in Exodus 20:3, 4 (AMP), You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness…[as an object to worship]. And we find the words, put God first in Proverbs 3:6 (TLB).

We fall in lust with it and out of love with Who.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. – 1 John 4:8 (NIV)

God is love and lust is an abhorrent to love. Lust is definitely not love; they’re driven by two completely different forces.

The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer. – James 1:14-15 (MSG)

Lust is rooted in selfishness, that’s the bottom-line. Human beings can develop a lust for just about anything; that’s how addictions are developed.

According to Matthew 5:28 (MSG), Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body

Lust is formulated in the heart. Lust erodes and corrodes our minds Lust causes us to make bad decisions and wrong choices. Lust devolves into destructive behaviours with devastating consequences.

Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the terrible wrath of God is upon all those who do them. Don’t even associate with such people. – Ephesians 5:6-7 (TLB)

Certain people’s unbridled lust for fame, prominent social status, adoration, lavish lifestyle, attention and acknowledgement have all led to murder.

Certain people’s unbridled lust for gratification of any sort has enslaved them to a life of addiction.

Certain people’s unbridled lust for riches has committed them to a life of crime.

Certain people’s unbridled lust for power has them doing unspeakable injustices to their fellow man.

Certain people’s unbridled lust to love and to be loved has made them seek love in all the wrong places and from all the wrong people.

Lust, left to fester, can lead to obsession that is difficult to break free from, but there is a way of stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us (ref. Hebrews 12:1 AMP), for the fight against lust isn’t ours alone.

For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature. – 2 Peter 1:4 (AMP)

Lust is a struggle, but you can gain victory over it, you can break free from the gnawing addictions and the wounds they have inflicted.

It is the Holy Spirit that gives us victory, sets us free, and heals our wounds.

Beloved, we serve a God who is infinitely merciful and whose love never fails (ref. 1 Corinthians 13:8) – He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

So, under guidance of the Holy Spirit, take stock of your own life, to make sure that [you are] not going the wrong way. Ask Him to lead [you] on the path that has always been right. (Psalm 139:24 ERV)

Also, to avoid the enslavement of lust and be drawn into the freedom of love, watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. (Ephesians 5:1-2 MSG).

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Lust” © 2026 October 16, 2026