The Battle for Your Affection
- Bishop Keith Butler
- 59 minutes ago
- 2 min read
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. (1 John 2:16)
John didn’t sugarcoat the struggle that we face in this world as believers. Here, he breaks down the core temptations that pull us away from God into three simple categories:
1. The lust of the flesh – refers to the craving for pleasure and the desire to satisfy our physical and emotional appetites that contradict God’s Word and His law.
2. The lust of the eyes – this is covetousness. It signifies the desire to possess what others have: their belongings, their status, and their successes.
3. The pride of life – this manifests as boasting about our possessions, accomplishments, or how we are perceived by others. It reflects an obsession with our own importance.
The pattern of using these three temptations is nothing new. Satan employed them at the very beginning of time. He made sure Eve saw that the forbidden fruit was “good for food” (the lust of the flesh), “pleasant to the eyes” (lust of the eyes), and “desired to make one wise” (pride of life). Do you know why the enemy hasn’t changed his tactics? Because they still work! John was trying to remind the church that these desires do not originate from God; they emerge from the world and from Satan, who is the god of this world’s system.
So, how can we combat these three traps? Instead of indulging our fleshly desires, we trust and rely on God by walking in the Spirit.We don’t follow Eve’s example by fixating on what we’re not meant to have. Instead, we set our eyes on Jesus, and He will align our desires with His will.
When pride shows up in our hearts and emotions, we decide not to measure our worth by our status, achievements, or the approval of others. We measure our worth based on what God says about us.
Practical Application
Ask yourself, “What desires have been pulling me away from God?” Make it a point to replace your worldly cravings with godly pursuits. Spend more time in the Word and worship, and find ways to serve others in your free time.