In the first Epistle, the Apostle John uses "lust" to describe any strong desire for, inclination toward or deep attachment to things of the world. Lust of the flesh (epithumia) is the desire for worldly ambitions, selfish aims, and worldly pleasures. Lust of the eyes (epithmia of opthalmon) wants everything it sees and wants everyone else to see it.

John warns us: Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:15-16

I think it is very unfortunate that our culture places such a high premium on the things of this world. We are a capitalistic nation and no other people on earth have "things" in the abundance prevailing among us here in America. What the "eye" see and desires, the hand is all too ready to grab. But in our mad, mad scrambling for "things" (pleasures, power, prestige, recognition…) we become nothing more than lost puppets in the manipulating hands of the Evil One.

Our lust for the world is one of the biggest enemies to mankind. It has in its bosom every mode of evil and transgression. It is our Sodom of soul and Gomorrah of spirit. We want what the world offers and turn our backs on the things of God. We sacrifice our "real" world that we might enjoy the pleasures of the "fake" world. Satan baits us by appealing to our deepest illicit desires (which he is too well acquainted with) and too many of us, because of our own evil desires, fall prey.

"When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me'. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:13-15.

The lust of the world is the catalyst that ignites all sorts of sin and leaves in its path many innocent victims. Too many of us who call ourselves Christians are tied to this world. We treat religion carelessly because we are earthbound and not heavenbound. We cannot give up the world. We cannot give up our lust for the lotteries, bars, race tracks, and so forth.

But Jesus made it clear when He told the rich young ruler, If you want eternal life, if you want to save your soul, then you must pay the price and eternal life is not cheap. But if you really want the other world, you have to relinquish this world. You have to sell out. Get rid of all your worldly lust and then, follow me. As you remember, the rich young ruler walked away.

So it was with Judas. He was too invested in the world and chose to trade Jesus for a small sum of this world’s pleasures and possessions. His deepest lust for the world snowballed until it drove him to make the mistake of his life. A mistake for which he is still to this very day despised. Scripture is filled with verses that warn against the sin of lust. It illustrates numerous examples of individuals who gave in to their lustful desire and the negative consequences it had.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:1-4.

All Christian believers are God’s children, born from above. We love God and are empowered to overcome the lust of the world. As children of God, we are detached from the world and attached to God and His kingdom. We adhere to the unshakable conviction that in Christ Jesus our Lord, we have the victory. Jesus is our weapon against which neither the evil tricks of Satan nor the forceful lures of the world can prevail.

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, though delayed in publication, is expected to be available early 2006.

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