National Lusts. What Do You Lust After?

We all want the economy fixed. We all know that we are in a jam. Are our lusts going to drive us off the proverbial cliff?

What do you lust after? We usually use it in reference to lusting after people, but you can lust after things also.

The government provides or intends to provide healthcare, Medicaid, food stamps, farm subsidies, grants, bailouts, etc. We want the government to take our taxes and teach our kids, provide us with fire departments, police departments, and the military. Employees have paid for social security, Medicare, and unemployment. Everyone has an opinion about where our tax dollars should go. No one wants to budge. Why? Is it for the benefits on the line? Is it because it is best for the country?

One of the most common reasons marriages break up is lust – for another person or for things. Lust for things is probably the biggest reason. There is only so much money to go around, and it cannot be spent twice. When one spouse lusts over one purchase after another, all the money can quickly go away.

When both do this, debt can pile on until the credit cards are maxed out. At some point, the situation has to be faced. Decisions about spending must be made. Both may argue why something is needed. The critical word here is “needed.” God promises to supply our needs.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

But God does not promise to supply your lusts or wants. We need to learn that what we lust after – that new boat, car, vacation, living room suit, etc. – is most likely a want. Lust is sin.

And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
Psalms 106:11-15

The Israelites lusted and tempted God. He gave them what they wanted, but it did not serve them as they thought it would. They’d have been better off without.

On a personal level, we tend to think we need stuff that we simply want, but we could do without. So goes our nation right now. Many things we purchase are things we need. Much are things we’d like to have. I suspect many things in Washington, D.C. are pet projects that would not be missed by the masses.

Lust is a sin. It will sink our marriages, and it will sink us. It will sink our country if we don’t shake ourselves free.

LIFE APPLICATION

Today’s challenge is to pray for God to show you if lust is affecting your life. Think in a broad sense. Do you lust after seeing that television show, movie, or next purchase you are planning to make? Would you just die if you had to wait a week to get that new whatever? Now, think about all the new whatevers you bought in the past. Did any of them really satisfy your desires? Ask God to take away your lust for things and replace it with a desire for a greater relationship with Him.