What are desires?

Desires are thoughts about objects that we do not currently possess.

To desire is to long for, want, or covet. A desire is the thing that you want. Some of the words in older English versions of the Bible that are translated as desire simply mean “ask” or “seek,” and are translated that way in more modern versions.
Desire is a basic part of life, neither good nor bad in itself. The important moral issue is how one responds to his or her desires. It is possible to let desires control one’s conduct, or to control one’s desires and use them to serve their God-appointed purposes.

Christians have differed on the appropriate reaction to desire. Ascetics have claimed, for example, that the desire for food and the enjoyment of eating is sinful. But Jesus’ examples in the Gospels show that he enjoyed good meals-so much so that his critics called him a glutton (Luke 7:34). His first miracle in John’s Gospel was performed at a wedding in Cana of Galilee, where the feasting probably went on for several days (John 2:1-11).

Many think that sexual desire is bad, but it is of itself no more evil than the desire for food. God created people with both desires, and they both must be kept under control, in obedience to God’s law.

How does one distinguish between good desire and bad desire? Ultimately there is one basic issue: Is a person’s desire self-centered or a desire for God’s will? The Bible teaches that the essence of sin is a determination to have one’s own way. Although King Saul never committed the dual crimes of adultery and murder that King David did, David was honored and Saul was reproached. The reason given by the Bible is that David was “a man after [God’s] heart,” who wanted to do God’s will (Acts 13:22). But Saul was stubborn and self-willed, and he was rejected for that reason (1 Samuel 15:23).

Evil desire, therefore, is not necessarily a desire for something that one might label as wicked. It is essentially the desire to have one’s own way. As such, it is idolatry, putting self in place of God. Without desire, nothing is accomplished in life. But one’s actions must always be in accord with God’s will as it is revealed in his Word. The Bible even promises that if people take delight in the Lord, then God will give them the desires of their heart (Psalm 37:4). The idea is this: when God is someone’s greatest desire, all that person’s other desires become prioritized and then mirror God’s own desires for that person’s well-being.

APPROPRIATE DESIRES

WHAT DESIRES MEET WITH GOD’S APPROVAL?

BIBLE READING: Genesis 29:1-30
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Jacob spent the next seven years working to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days. (Genesis 29:20)

SOME DESIRES REQUIRE A REAL INVESTMENT OF OURSELVES

People often wonder if working a long time for something they desire is worth it. Jacob worked seven years to marry Rachel. After being tricked, he agreed to work seven more years for her (although he did get to marry Rachel shortly after he married Leah)! The most important goals and desires are worth working and waiting for. Movies and television have created the illusion that people have to wait only about an hour to solve their problems or get what they want. Don’t be trapped into thinking the same is true in real life. Patience is hardest when we need it the most, but it is the key to achieving our goals.

BIBLE READING: Psalm 97:1-12
KEY BIBLE VERSE: You who love the LORD, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked. (Psalm 97:10)

OUR DESIRES SHOULD NOT GO AGAINST WHAT GOD DESIRES

A sincere desire to please God will result in an alignment of your desires with God’s desires. You will love what God loves and hate what God hates. If you love the Lord, you will hate evil. If you do not despise the actions of people who take advantage of others, if you admire people who only look out for themselves, or if you envy those who get ahead using any means to accomplish their ends, then your primary desire in life is not to please God. Learn to love God’s ways and hate evil in every form-not only the obvious sins but also the socially acceptable ones.

BIBLE READING: Acts 21:1-16
KEY BIBLE VERSE: But [Paul] said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! For I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but also to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13)

WHEN DESIRES ARE IN CONFLICT, THE RIGHT CHOICE IS OBEDIENCE TO GOD

Paul knew he would be imprisoned in Jerusalem. Although his friends pleaded with him not to go there, he knew that he had to because God wanted him to. No one enjoys pain, but a faithful disciple wants above all else to please God. Our desire to please God should overshadow our desire to avoid hardship and suffering. When we really want to do God’s will, we must accept all that comes with it-even the pain. Then we can say with Paul, “The Lord’s will be done."

BIBLE READING: Hebrews 9:11-28
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. (Hebrews 9:14)

THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL RESHAPE OUR DESIRES TO MATCH GOD’S

If our hearts are not changed, following God’s rules is unpleasant and difficult. We rebel against being told how to live. The Holy Spirit, however, gives us new desires. He helps us want to obey God (see Philippians 2:12-13). With new hearts, we find that serving God is our greatest joy.

INAPPROPRIATE DESIRES

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OUR DESIRES CLASH WITH GOD’S DESIRES?

BIBLE READING: Galatians 5:13-26
KEY BIBLE VERSE: The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. (Galatians 5:17)

WE NEED GOD’S HELP TO SETTLE THE CONFLICT

Paul describes the two forces conflicting within us-the Holy Spirit and the sinful nature (our evil desires or inclinations; see also 5:16, 19, 24). Paul is not saying that these forces are equal-the Holy Spirit is infinitely stronger. But if we rely on our own wisdom, we will make wrong choices. If we try to follow the Spirit by our own human effort, we will fail. Our only way to freedom from our evil desires is through the empowering of the Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:9; Ephesians 4:23-24; Colossians 3:3-8).

WE MUST NOT IGNORE THE TENDENCY TO FOLLOW OUR OWN WAY

We all have evil desires, and we can’t ignore them. In order for us to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we must deal with them decisively (crucify them-5:24). These desires include obvious sins such as sexual immorality and witchcraft. They also include less obvious sins such as selfish ambition, hatred, and jealousy. Those who ignore such sins or refuse to deal with them reveal that they have not received the gift of the Spirit leading to a transformed life.

BIBLE READING: Matthew 5:27-30
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28)

UNCONTROLLED DESIRES CAN THEMSELVES BE SINFUL

The Old Testament law said that it is wrong for a person to have sex with someone other than his or her spouse (Exodus 20:14). But Jesus said that the desire to have sex with someone other than your spouse is mental adultery and thus sin. Jesus emphasized that if the act is wrong, then so is the intention. To be faithful to your spouse with your body but not your mind is to break the trust so vital to a strong marriage. Jesus is not condemning natural interest in the opposite sex or even healthy sexual desire, but the deliberate and repeated filling of one’s mind with fantasies that would be evil if acted out.

UNCONTROLLED DESIRES CAN LEAD TO SIN

Some think that if lustful thoughts are sin, why shouldn’t a person go ahead and carry out the lustful actions too? Acting out sinful desires is harmful in several ways: (1) it causes people to excuse sin rather than to stop sinning; (2) it destroys marriages; (3) it is deliberate rebellion against God’s Word; and (4) it always hurts someone else in addition to the sinner. Sinful action is more dangerous than sinful desire, and that is why desires should not be acted out. Nevertheless, sinful desire is just as damaging to righteousness. Left unchecked, wrong desires will result in wrong actions and turn people away from God.

Please stay tuned for more.