What exactly is lust?

[katanoese]

Is lust... (for one who is unmarried)

any sexual thought?
any attraction to another person?
any fantasy?
any contemplation of a sex act with another person?
etc...

People use the word "lust" to mean whatever they think it should mean, and I have no idea what it is supposed to mean... Does anyone have an idea with any degree of certainty?

 

[Lost_and_astray]

Using dictionary.com gives:

intr.v. lust·ed, lust·ing, lusts To have an intense or obsessive desire, especially one that is sexual.

and

Intense or unrestrained sexual craving.

I have no idea what exactly is lust too, and how we should cut the line off for it.

skyglow1

 

[XEmobodimentOfConfusionX]

Lust is a selfish thought....it's the controling feeling of wanting something sexual from another....it can be many things besides this too...and it is very hard to fight.....it goes hand in hand withtemptation as well.

 

[janny108]

Lust is addicting,obsessive it's always on your mind, whether it be about a woman/man, or it can be about gaining possessions and money. In a lustful person's mind this MUST be satisfied regardless of the cost involved. It is capable of destroying your soul, relationships, bank account. It can be overcome only by Jesus and His living word. Nothing else will provide a long lasting "relief".

3 things to fight:
l. feed on Jesus, read the bible, memorize scriptures
2. get rid of anything that causes you to stumble
3. get accountability partners

Jan

 

[Ssarl]

Sexual attraction - no. As I heard it so well put in a source I've forgotten, it's not a sin that your hormones are working.
Fantasy - yes. It's not right for me to daydream about having sex with my neighbour - it's using her for my sexual pleasure without her consent. Even if by some bizarre circumstance she actually knows about this and is ok with it, then we're just encouraging each other to sin.

I'd define lust as the desire to have what's not rightfully yours, particularly in but not limited to a sexual context. The physical boundaries of what exactly is sex and what is inappropriate can be blurred, but the feelings of the heart seem clear to me. Seeing that somebody is attractive is not lust, it's working vision. Seeing that somebody is attractive and being led by this to an inappropriate attitude or action is lust.

I've noticed that many people where attractive. Once have I been driven to lust. I didn't find the distinction subtle at all, it was the difference between 'cute' and 'I wonder if he'd have sex with me?'. The lines can be blurred as to exactly what is inappropriate - my advice is to draw boundaries and STICK WITH THEM.

 

[Johnnz]

Good question.

Lust is not normal sexuality. Having sexual feelings and reactions is not it in itself lust. Attraction to the opposite sex, recognising that a girl/guy is attractive, having an erection, curiosity about what the opposite sex looks like unclothed are not in themselves lustful. Generally they are just sexual reactions to sexual stimuli, some of which are initiated by our own hormones. We must recognise that we are sexual beings, and that means we will have many sexual feelings and thoughts. It is really important to accept our sexuality as normal and God given.

A committed couple wanting to be sexual is not in itself wrong. That's one way God intended real love to be expressed. It's just that waiting until marriage is what God requires. Couples are not sinful or wicked because they desire to be sexual and anticipate having sex when they are married.

Lust requires that we actively contemplate something that is wrong. Pornography is wrong because of the distorted way sex and bodies are presented. Deciding to relate to a person because you want to have some degree of sexual relationship with him/her is wrong.

Unless we have a really healthy veiw of what normal sexuality is it is too easy to assign lust to behaviours that don't deserve to be so classified.

John
NZ

 

[Mr.Cheese]

I've got an interesting thingie from our morning bible study that explains things rather well. I've no idea who, if anyone, should be cited but...

"Love gives, but lust takes. Love sacrifices itself, but lust sacrifices others. Love purifies, but lust degrades. Love satisfies, but lust leaves a gnawing emptiness."

I like that.

So our desire isn't a bad thing. It's our selfishness that can screw things up.

 

[Lost_and_astray]

Now I can i see clearly that I'm sinning alot :O

skyglow1