There is a great contrast between love and lust. Lust is more of a sexual or greedy feeling, while love is more of a secure and content filled feeling we get from giving and receiving. Lust does not have to be something sexual, it can be a greedy desire for more money and power, etc. But for this article, I am using it in its sexual context.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 sums up the common traits and variances of love and lust.

LOVE is kind = considerate, caring, giving, thoughtful, understanding

Lust is envy = jealous, greed, spite, resentment,

LOVE is not proud = humble, submissive, meek, modest

Lust is self-seeking = selfish, rebellious, rude, egotistical, hateful,

LOVE rejoices in the truth = God is love, Love is God = Wisdom, Holy Spirit,

Lust delights in evil = Satan, sin, wicked, iniquitous, immoral, dishonest

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1John 4:8 AND

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we ought to also love one another. 1 John 4:11

The world has a superficial and selfish view of love, which has contaminated our understanding of what REAL LOVE is. The culture believes that love is something that makes us FEEL good and that its acceptable to sacrifice moral principles to obtain such love. But in doing so this culture IS NOT obtaining the love characteristic but the lustful ones.

Love involves unselfish acts. Faith is the foundation of Gods message. By putting our complete faith in God gives us the freedom to love others completely.

Matthew 5:27-28 says, You have heard that it was said, do not commit adultery, but I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right hand causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for you whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

When Jesus said to throw away you right hand or gouge out your eye, he didnt mean in the literal sense because even a blind person can lust. Jesus thinking was that if that were the only choice, then it would be better to go into heaven with one eye or one hand then to go to hell with two hands or two eyes.

Acting out lustful desires is very harmful in four ways.

1. Lustful desires destroys marriage

2. Lustfulness is rebelliousness to God

3. Lustfulness always hurts someone

4. Lustful acts leads to premarital sex

Jesus said the desire to have sex with someone other than your spouse is mental adultery. Therefore, If lustful desires are in our thoughts, then they most likely will come out in our actions!

For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34

In essence, its in what we THINK. What we crave and lust for in life shows our values and morals. What we think in our heart and mind comes back out in our actions.

Lustful thinking can turn into

1. Adultery = divorce

2. Premarital sex = genital diseases = lack of sexual interest with spouse

3. Sin = death

Sexual immorality is a temptation we all must face on a daily basis. God doesnt forbid sexual sins just to be difficult. God knows its power to destroy people lives physically and spiritually. God wants to protect us from damaging ourselves with immoral sexual desires. Sex outside of the marriage relationship always hurts someone. It hurts God because it shows that we care more about our own lustful desires than Him.

Paul said in Corinthians, Do you no know that your body is the a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price (Jesus Christ death freed us from sin). Therefore, honor God with your body 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20

Many people believe they have the right to do whatever they want with their own bodies. And they think this is freedom, but really, they are enslaved to their own lustful and sinful desires they are in bondage and slave to their desires.

When we become Christians (Christ ones) the Holy Spirit lives in us and fills us up, and we no longer own our own bodies, but we belong to God.

Do you love others like God wants you to love?

Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 1 John 2:10