Love VS. Lust

Amnon claimed to be in love with Tamar, his half-sister. Actually, he was in lust. so much in lust that he set a trap for her and raped her when she wouldn't give in willingly. Within hours, his so-called "love" turned to hatred and disgust. Then he compounded his sin by throwing her out, making it look like she was the one who had instigated the encounter rather than him.

Lust is a very human feeling, something virtually every person experiences at one time or another. In fact, many people spend so much time trying to satisfy their lust that they never find true love. How do you tell the difference? Especially when lust is so intense. so overwhelming. Especially when movies and television and books play on our lust more and more and more, enticing us with the apparent pleasures available all around us? Let's take a look at 1 Corinthians 13.

Love is patient. Lust can't wait. Love is kind. Lust is cruel, determined to be satisfied no matter what. Love does not envy. Lust sees an actor on the screen who always ends up in bed with a beautiful woman and wants to be just like him. Lust wants to take another man's wife or another woman's husband. Love does not boast. Lust makes a person preen and swagger and prance in an attempt to gain access to its target. Love is not proud. Lust is filled with vanity, sure of its ability to conquer. Love is not rude. Lust doesn't take time for propriety, doesn't care how one behaves. Love is not self-seeking. Lust cares for nothing but self-gratification. Love is not easily angered. Lust fills a person with fury if it is not satisfied. Love keeps no record of wrongs. Lust will give out a list of wrongs, over and over and over again, doing everything in its power to condemn the other person if he or she does not give in. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. Lust is evil exemplified and will twist the truth - even using scripture out of context - to win its case. Love always protects its object. Lust only protects itself. Love always trusts. Lust is jealous, suspicious, trusting no one. Love always hopes. Lust only hopes to be satisfied. Love always perseveres. Lust stops cold as soon as it is satisfied, moving on to newer and more gratifying conquests.

See the difference? Whether you're single or married, lust can creep in and take over. Decide which one you want - the love that God wants you to have or the lust that your body wants to have. Learn from the Word what the difference is. Then when lust shows up, you'll recognize it.

Used with Permission