“And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Lust is using people for selfish means. Jesus saw the sin of that and knew it was a heart issue.
Sex trafficking was reported recently of girls as young as 12 years old. They are lured and kidnapped into prostitution. Minneapolis is one of the top locations in the U.S. for child sex trafficking. A six-month study by local prosecutors found over 34,000 advertisements posted online for sex in the Twin Cities. One official said it clearly. "As long as there is demand, there will be supply." The growing demand of sex for hire and pornography is based on greed and selfish indulgence. It grows into other sins and crimes are committed. Lust never is satisfied; it always desires more.
Godly love is what brings glue to a meaningful relationship. Real love for God comes only when we have first received and responded to real love from God. Scripture teaches that sex, like most things in life, can be used as God intended for joy and pleasure, blessing and fulfillment. It can also be misused and lead to sin, lust, and twisted perversion. When God created woman, He said to that first couple to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Sexual relationship was God's creative genius for sharing love in a healthy marriage commitment whereby procreation of children can be properly cared for and nurtured.
The Bible speaks of the joy of sex as God intended. Real love is to be devoted to one’s spouse and committed to that person by working through difficulties in a relationship that is unselfish. It is to draw upon the pure love from God by serving another not focused on being served. The principle of pure love is also seen in Jesus’ teaching, that it is in giving that we receive and in blessing we are blessed.
Those rewards do not come quickly. They come when we find purpose and wholeness in God are used by Him to duplicate love to others.
When we are tempted to use people in lust, I am reminded of a piece written by Portia Nelson entitled: "Autobiography in 5 short chapters."
Chapter 1. I walked down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost. I am helpless. It isn't my fault. I take forever to find a way out.
Chapter 2. I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I am in the same place. But it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter 3. I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk; I see it is there. I still fall in. It is a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.
Chapter 4. I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it carefully. I almost fall in.
Chapter 5. I walk down another street. "
Some are fighting the “lust-battle” alone. There is healing, forgiveness, and power in Christ and in fellowship with godly friends. There is another road and others are willing to walk it with you.
