HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 208
page A206
Lust continued
• 1 K I NG S 1 1 :3 | He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did
turn his heart away from the Lord.
Because lust is a sin, dwelling on it or consistently giving in to it will negatively change
your behavior and turn your heart from God. Solomon’s lust eventually led not only to
promiscuity but a rejection of God.
What is the difference between lust and love?
• 2 S A MU E L 1 3 :1 4 | But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her, and since he was stronger than she
was, he raped her. (See note on page 283.)
Love does not take that which is not offered. Lust takes what it wants regardless of the
other’s needs or desires.
• 1 C O R I NT H I A NS 1 3 :4 -5 | Love is patient and kind. . . . It does not demand its own way.
Love is patient and kind. Lust is impatient and rude.
How can I keep my desires from becoming lustful?
• MAT T H E W 5 :2 8 | “Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed
adultery with her in his heart.” (See note on page 864.)
You can prevent lust from taking root in your mind by avoiding that “second look.”
L
• PH I L I P P I A NS 4 :8 | Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure,
and lovely, and admirable.
When you fill your heart and mind with what is pure and good, lust finds no place to dwell.
HelpFinder
• SO NG O F S O NG S 7 :6 | Oh, how beautiful you are! How pleasing, my love, how full of
delights!
When you focus your desire on your spouse, lust for others has less room to grow. Make
sure, however, the desire for your spouse is pure and healthy.
Is it possible to lust for something other than physical pleasure?
• J O B 2 2 :2 4 | “Give up your lust for money and throw your precious gold into the river.”
• E X O DU S 2 0 :1 7 | “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet . . .
anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
It is possible to lust for many things. Power, wealth, and material things can all become
objects of lust.
PROMISES FROM GOD
• PH I L I P P I A NS 4 :8 -9 | Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and
pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of
praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and . . . then the God of peace will be
with you.
• J A ME S 1 :1 4 -1 5 | Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us
away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives
birth to death.
Marriage See also Commitment; Faithfulness; Intimacy; Sexuality
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the minister says. The bride and groom look lovingly
into each other’s eyes. Family, friends, and even casual acquaintances feel like cheering.
Two people have found each other, pledged to each other a lifetime of commitment, vowed
to be devoted and loving, and promised never to leave or forsake each other. Vows of
faithfulness are the bedrock of marriage. Through those vows, two people, in a miraculous
way, become one. Then begins a lifetime of working together, worshiping together, playing
together, loving together, raising children together, building a home together, and solving