By certain definitions, lust can apply to many things, but I will limit this post to how it applies to sex. In a general sense, lust is defined as a self-absorbed desire. Contrast this with the fact that sex was designed to be a relational bond, and any selfish approach towards it is clear to cause problems. Besides the selfish issue, lust for anything is a sign of priorities out of order. The Bible lays out a host of specific boundaries, as well as a number of principles, limiting how sexual desires should be gratified, and most lustful desires fall outside of those boundaries
Sex or lust is the only "vice" that I feel any temptation towards. I don't smoke, not because it’s bad for one’s health, but because I have not even the remotest desire to try it. And while I occasionally have a drink to be social, I have no real interest in that activity. And drugs are totally off my radar; I usually even avoid taking medication unless I really need it. But I can relate to people's fascination with and interest in sex. (Not necessarily all of those interests, but the general struggle with lust in its many forms)
Lust is an extra challenging struggle, for a number of reasons. For one, the problem can exist entirely in your mind, even if you exercise complete control over your physical actions. I have always found the idea of controlling my thoughts to be a bit ridiculous: my mind goes a mile a minute, and I have enough trouble steering thoughts in the right direction, (staying focused and avoiding distractions) that I can’t fathom stopping any from ever going in the wrong direction. Beyond the psychological aspects, there is an obvious biological element that plays a role in how and when the problem manifests. (Supposedly that is true of drug addictions and such as well, but I have no experience with that.) Lack of a healthy outlet for sexual desire is not the source of lust, but it definitely can increase the issue by another order of magnitude.
Part of me is aware that: if it wasn't for this one weakness, I would find it much more difficult to relate to other people's consistent moral struggles. Since there is at least one aspect of my life or thoughts that I don't wield complete conscious control over, I have a lot more sympathy and compassion for the struggles and failures of others. I am not perfect by any means, but that is the one issue which consistently illustrates to me my own shortcomings and weaknesses.
Besides the effect that it has on my perspective of others, weakness towards lust also plays a significant role in my relationship with God. Being conscious of my own weakness makes it easier to recognize my dependence on his mercy, both in forgiveness for past transgressions and strength to avoid future ones. I have by now figured out that it is not a problem that I can solve on my own.
In his book "The Screwtape Letters," C.S.Lewis refers to the idea that God can grant a reprieve in regards to lust: "the Enemy (God) has, for the time being, put a forcible end to your direct attacks on the patient's chastity." I would love to know what exactly he is referring to here, since I have yet to experience it, but others have described something similar to me. While I have, at moments, found it easier than usual to prevail in the constant struggle with lust, those periods of time are much shorter than the months that are alluded to in the book. This is followed shortly thereafter by the statement that: "your man has now discovered the dangerous truth that these attacks don't last forever" which is something that I am also still waiting to discover. I have difficulty believing that this is a realistic possibility, “but with God all things are possible.” (Matt 19:26)
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