lust

Self-gratification.

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For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life —is not from the Father but is from the world. – 1 John 2:16 ESV

John has just issued a command: Do not love the world. Simple. Direct. Straight forward. But for most of us, it is easier said than done. Loving the world comes naturally to us. It is part of our nature – our sin nature. And the world is more than willing to accommodate and return our love. But at the end of the day, our love of or for the world is really self-love. It is motivated not by what we can give the world, but by what we can get from it. Yes, it is a reciprocal relationship. It is give-and-take. We give and we get. But for the most part, we give TO get. And John gives us three evidences of that give-to-get nature of our love affair with the world. The New Living Translation provides a very up-to-date and in-your-face interpretation of verse 16. “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” I think this gives us a very clear idea of what John is attempting to say. He is providing us with three distinct characteristics that mark a love affair of the world or, better yet, a love of self. The first is “a craving for physical pleasure.” The NASB translates it as “the lust of the flesh.” The NIV reads, “the cravings of sinful man.” The ESV has “the desires of the flesh.” The word John uses that gives us any insight into what he is talking about is the Greek word sarx. It can refer to the human body, but in this case, John is using it to refer to “the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God.” It is our sin nature and even though we have been redeemed and renewed by Christ, it remains alive and well within us. Paul puts it this way: “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (Galatians 5:17 ESV). He goes on to describe the very dark side of our flesh or sin nature. “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these” (Galatians 5:19-21 ESV). So when John refers to the craving of sinful man, the desires of the flesh, this is what he is talking about. The real issue here is self-gratification. What I like to refer to is saying yes to what God has said no to. Self-gratification is the act of pleasing or satisfying oneself, especially the gratifying of one’s own impulses, needs, or desires. If you look at the list given by Paul, it provides a comprehensive catalog of sinful actions and attitudes that have been forbidden by God. They are aptly summed up in the Ten Commandments. God has forbidden us to do these things. But self-gratification causes us to say yes to what God has said no to. Rather than obey him, we give in to our sinful desires. And the world is more than willing to accommodate us. It gives us exactly what we crave, but not because it loves us, but because it hates us. Jesus warned His disciples, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19 ESV). Self-gratification is ultimately self-destructive. Paul tells us the only way to protect ourselves from this dangerous human tendency is by living in the light, by listening to and obeying the wisdom of the indwelling Holy Spirit. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16 ESV).

The Spirit gives us the strength to say no to what God has said no to. He provides us with the capacity to turn away from self-love and self-gratification so that we can love others. The problem with a life of self-gratification is that it not only destroys us, it damages all those around us. Every one of the characteristics listed by Paul has a negative relational aspect to it. Jealousy, anger, immorality, impurity, strife, envy, and rivalries – they all involve a form of hatred toward others. They use and abuse others. But we have been called to love one another – as Christ has loved us. Yet the enemy is out to get us to say yes to what God has said no to and to say no to what God has said yes to. God had told Adam and Eve that one tree in the garden was a “no” for them. But Satan caused them to doubt God’s word. He tempted them to say yes to what God had said no to, and they gave in to their fleshly desires. What looked good to them ended up being highly destructive. The same is true for us today. Living a life of self-gratification appears to seductive and alluring. And the world whispers in our ear that what we desire is good and right. But God has said, “No!” He has something far greater in store for us. Whether we believe it or not, He is telling us that a life of selflessness is the key to fulfillment and satisfaction. A life of sacrifice is the path to joy and contentment. A life marked by a love for others will leave us feeling loved by God and more gratified than we could ever imagine.


Proverbs 27c

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Insatiable.

“Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied.” – Proverbs 27:20 NLT

It was the Rolling Stones who made famous the statement, “I can’t get no satisfaction,” but the message of those lyrics is timeless, even older than Mick Jagger himself. From the days of Adam and Eve, mankind has wrestled with an insatiable desire for more. It seems we have never satisfied. The garden, as good as God deemed it to be, just wasn’t good enough for them. They had to have more. They had to get their hands on the ONE thing God told them they couldn’t have. And the enemy turned that one prohibition into dissatisfaction and, ultimately into rebellion against God. God had given them all that they needed, but they determined it wasn’t enough. They needed more.

The Message has a unique way of paraphrasing Scripture that makes it hit home. It says, “Hell has a voracious appetite, and lust just never quits.” Hell is a bottomless pit whose quota never gets reached and whose occupancy sign is always shining brightly. There’s always room for one more there. And our desire for more is just as insatiable and unquenchable. The world calls out to us like the old Lay’s Potato chip commercial, “Bet you can’t eat just one.” It holds out its bag of delicious delicacies, tempting us with just a nibble, but knowing that once our taste buds kick into gear we won’t be able to say no. One won’t be enough. You’ll have to have more. You won’t be able to resist. Before you know it, the bag lays empty at your feet and your stomach aches with the uncomfortable fullness of having over-indulged once again.

There is a certain sense in which the degree of our satisfaction is directly linked to the level of our sanctification. The more we grow in God, the more satisfied we become in Him. The more holy we become, the more wholly we find out needs met in Him. We find ourselves needing less and less of what the world has to offer to meet our needs and satiate our desire for more. We grow increasingly more content with Him. Paul tells us from firsthand experience that “true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth” (1 Timothy 6:6 NLT). Godliness and contentment go hand in hand. They are two sides of the same coin. You can’t be truly godly and lack contentment. You can’t ever be content without a vibrant, growing relationship with God. It is our dissatisfaction with God that drives our search for satisfaction in the things of this world. But if we try and fill the God-shaped vacuum in our lives with anything other than God, we will find ourselves constantly disappointed and desiring even more.

If you find yourself unable to “get no satisfaction,” it may be time for you to examine what source you’re seeking your satisfaction from. God never disappoints. He never fails to satisfy. He is fully capable of meeting all our needs and satisfying all our desires. He fills AND fulfills us. He scratches our itch. He quenches our thirst. He satisfies our longings and eliminates our insatiable addiction for more. Human desire without divine intervention is unquenchable and uncontrollable. It is a demanding task master that’s never satisfied until we find our satisfaction in Christ.

Father, forgive me for the many times I have turned to this world in an attempt to satisfy my desires. I have taken my eyes off of You and looked elsewhere for those things that only You can provide. Keep me focused on You. Keep me resting in You. Let me find my satisfaction in You. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Proverbs 9b

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The Folly Of False Advertising.

“Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!” – Proverbs 9:17 NLT

Prior to entering the ministry, I spent 29 years in the advertising industry as a graphic designer. I loved everything about advertising and marketing. I enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of the business and coming up with creative ways to market products to specific audiences in order to increase sales. But one of the dangers inherent in the industry is the temptation to present a product or service in a way that either obscures and ignores its faults or enhances and overly inflates its attributes. Sadly to say, it’s a common practice because increased sales drive everything, including ethics, at times. But if you’ve ever been a victim of false advertising, you know how frustrating it can be. You buy a product on good faith, only to find out that it can’t deliver on the promises made when you bought it. Your investment ends up being a big disappointment. The same could be said of sin. Satan is called the father of lies and he is an expert at manipulating the facts in order to present his product in the most favorable light. He is adept at advertising sin in such a way that it not only sounds appealing, but indispensable. Solomon was well aware of this fact. Over and over again in the Proverbs he warns of the dangers of false advertising. But he isn’t dealing with products that fail to live up to their expectation. He’s warning against the moral failure that inevitably comes as a result of our own lack of discernment in the face of the enemy’s alluring offers. Solomon talks a lot about the promiscuous or adulterous woman. He describes her words as seductive. He says her lips are as sweet as honey, and her mouth as smoother than oil. She seduces with pretty speech and entices with flattery. And because they lack discernment, men fall prey to her tactics, taking the lure and reaping the results of their own stupidity. Solomon describes folly in a similar manner, describing it as a woman calling out to those who lack judgment, “Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!” (Proverbs 9:17 NLT). It sounds so true, so appealing, so tantalizingly logical. But it’s a lie. Temptation is always tempting, otherwise it would have no impact on us. And our enemy, Satan, knows our weaknesses. He is fully aware of the chinks in our armor. He knows what will tempt each of us and that is where he focuses his attention. He understands human nature and he appeals to our basest instincts and tries to take advantage of our sin natures. As in all advertising, Satan knows the key to success is figuring out how to appeal to our insatiable pride. So he flatters us, distracts us, manipulates and deceives us. He promises to give us what only God can provide. He offers us satisfaction, significance, and success. He guarantees us happiness. But the results are always the same: disappointment, disillusionment and, ultimately, death.

But wisdom calls out, “Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave you simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment” (Proverbs 9:6 NLT). God offers us true satisfaction, real success, and lasting significance – in Him. Don’t buy the lie. Listen to God. Answer His call. You’ll never be disappointed.

Father, give me the capacity to see through the subtle lies of the enemy. Don’t let me fall prey to his false advertisements. Only You can deliver what I need. Teach me to trust You. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Proverbs 9

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Two Invitations. Two Choices.

“Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.” – Proverbs 9:6 NLT

In this Proverbs, Solomon portrays wisdom and folly as two women. One is industrious, a planner, and highly hospitable. She offers those who are “simple” the chance to dine at her table and gain good judgment and wisdom. She offers them a chance to leave their simple ways behind and really begin to live. Wisdom offers long life, the capacity to fear God and know Him intimately and deeply. The other woman, Folly, also calls out and offers an invitation, but it is an invitation of another sort. Folly is portrayed as a prostitute. She is brash, ignorant and doesn’t even know it. She too calls out to the simple and those lacking in judgment. “‘Come in with me,’ she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says, ‘Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!'” (Proverbs 9:16-17 NLT).

Two women. Two invitations. But depending on which invitation you accept, two diametrically opposed outcomes. One ends in life, the other in death. One offers wisdom and good judgment in place of foolishness and simplicity. The other can only offer sensual pleasures and immediate gratification of the senses, but really delivers disappointment and, ultimately, death. The picture Solomon paints portrays life on this planet for each and every man and woman. Every day we are faced with two basic options: the way of wisdom as offered by God, or the way of folly or foolishness, so tantalizingly and temptingly offered by the world. And every day, we are faced with a choice to choose one or the other. The things of this world are so appealing. The ways of this world seem so logical and sensible. They appeal to our sin nature and are aimed at our senses. They have little to do with wisdom, understanding, common sense, or good judgment. And we’re not talking about intelligence, because even men with high IQs can be guilty of foolishness and live the life of the simpleminded. The Hebrew word used by Solomon for the “simple” person refers to one who is easily persuaded and enticed. They are naive. Satan and this world thrives on these kind of people. And every person who walks on this planet IS that kind of person if they don’t have a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son. They may be smart, successful, well-to-do, and even powerful, but they will still be simpleminded. They will be dominated by their flesh and driven by their desires. They will be susceptible to temptation and prone to live like fools. Why? Because they lack good judgment, common sense, wisdom, understanding and the fear of God.

The key seems to be found in Wisdom’s invitation. “Leave your simple ways behind.” There has to be a point in time when you decide to acknowledge your propensity to be easily persuaded and enticed. Then you have to be willing to abandon that lifestyle for another. We have to choose to accept God’s invitation to sit at His table and feast on His wisdom. We must trade in our desire to satisfy our senses for God’s offer of understanding. We need to understand the times in which we live, the dangers that surround us, our own tendencies to live like fools. We need to understand and comprehend our incapacity to survive in this world without God. Without Him we are easy targets for the enemy. God offers us wisdom. The world offers us folly. And every day we have a choice to make.

Father, give me the capacity to see life clearly – from Your perspective. Without You, I am a man who is prone to foolishness. I can easily fall prey to the temptations of the enemy and the allures of this world. But Your Spirit and Your Word give me the wisdom and insight I need to see this world for what it really is – my enemy. This world hated Christ and it hates me. Don’t let me listen to its lies and take its lures. Open my eyes and help me really live, based on Your wisdom and according to Your way. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org