Today I bring a profound message titled “The Things of Lust.” Many people hear the word lust and immediately think only of romance or physical desire. But today I want us to understand that lust goes much deeper than that. Lust is not only about attraction between a man and a woman — it is about selfish desire that pulls us away from God’s purpose. I want to shine a light on the things of lust because so many of us are involved in lust in ways we do not even recognize. It develops quietly within us. It grows slowly in our hearts until it begins to drive our decisions, our ambitions, and our priorities — and we don’t even realize what is happening.

From the beginning, God created humanity with purpose. When Jesus taught us to pray, He said, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” That means God’s intention was never just for us to escape to Heaven one day. His desire was for us to bring Heaven to Earth — to live according to His will, to reflect His character, and to advance His Kingdom in our daily lives. We were created to carry God’s presence and represent His nature. We were not created to live driven by selfish gain or personal ambition. But somewhere along the way, lust entered the human heart.

Now, what exactly is lust? The Apostle John warns us in 1 John 2:16, “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” So lust is not only sexual desire. Lust is selfish ambition that puts your goals above God’s will. It is craving status to the point where you sacrifice integrity for recognition. It is desiring power so strongly that you begin to control and manipulate others. It is obsessing over possessions and defining your worth by what you own. It is wanting success only for yourself without considering the Kingdom of God. It is seeking validation from people more than approval from God. When life becomes centered around “my house, my success, my career, my money, my reputation, my comfort,” without seeking God first, that is lust in operation.

Scripture gives us powerful examples of how lust destroys. Achan saw, coveted, and took what was forbidden, and it cost him and his family their lives. Gehazi lied for silver and garments, and leprosy clung to him and his descendants forever. David saw Bathsheba and indulged his desire, and bloodshed came into his house for generations. Ananias and Sapphira wanted reputation without sacrifice, and they fell dead at the apostles’ feet. These are warnings written for our instruction. Lust destroys individuals, families, and destinies. And it always begins subtly, always looks reasonable at first.

Now understand me clearly: it is not wrong to build a house, have a career, or provide for your family. These are blessings, and God desires good things for His children. The problem comes when these good things replace God’s purpose in your heart. When they become idols, they become lust. Jesus warned us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where is your treasure today? What occupies your thoughts? What do you sacrifice for? These questions reveal the true condition of your heart.

There are people in careers they never wanted because of lust for status and money. There are people in marriages they never desired because of lust for security or fear of being alone. There are people in prison today because lust for quick gain led them into crime. There are people living exhausted, stressed lives chasing achievements that never bring peace. Lust makes us believe that achievement equals fulfillment. It whispers that once we get the next thing, we will be satisfied. But fulfillment does not come from possessions or recognition. Fulfillment comes from purpose, and purpose comes from God.

At its root, lust is selfishness. It whispers, “You deserve more. Make it about you. Secure your future at all costs.” Slowly, we begin building our own kingdoms instead of God’s Kingdom. We invest in temporary rewards while neglecting eternal value. And the painful truth is this: at the end of life, we may realize that we owned many things but possessed nothing eternal. Jesus asked, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” That is the tragedy of lust — gaining everything the world offers while losing what truly matters.

The deception of lust is that it rarely looks evil. It disguises itself as hard work, ambition, or security. A person may say, “I am just working hard for my family,” but beneath that may be a desire for status or control. A person may say, “I am just building a better life,” but beneath that may be fear and mistrust of God. The enemy tempts us with good things that slowly replace God in our hearts. Consider the rich fool in Luke 12. He built bigger barns and said to his soul, “Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you.” He was rich toward himself but poor toward God. That is the ultimate definition of lust — being rich in things but poor in soul.

So today we must examine our hearts. Are we building our lives for God’s Kingdom or for ourselves? Does our success glorify God or feed our ego? If we achieved everything we are chasing, would God be honored? The purpose of life is not accumulation but alignment with God’s will. Jesus did not die so we could live comfortably; He died so we could live eternally and purposefully, starting now.

Therefore, let us pray against selfish ambition, worldly cravings, pride, hidden desires, the love of money, and the fear of man. And let us pray for pure hearts that seek God above all else, for Kingdom focus, contentment, obedience, and an eternal perspective. Because in the end, houses, cars, bank accounts, and reputations will remain on earth. But what is done for God’s Kingdom will last forever.

Let us return to the foundation. Let us return to what God loves. The prophet Micah asked, “What does the Lord require of you?” And the answer came: “To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” That is the opposite of lust. Walking humbly with God — that is the path of life, freedom, and purpose.

May we not allow the things of lust to steal our souls or distract us from our destiny. May we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting that everything we truly need will be added to us. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.