Conquering Lusts
“Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4.2, 3
“Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4.2, 3
In order to understand the importance of these two verses, we must understand the use of the word “lust.” “Lust” in James 4.1 and 3 translates the Greek word, “hedone” from which we gain our English word “hedonism” indicating self-indulgence or debauchery. It suggests the fulfillment of personal, physical, and often sexual desires. It occurs only five times in the New Testament and is used of the gratification of the natural desire or sinful desires. (See Luke 8.14; Titus 3.3; II Peter 2.13)
In James 4.2 the term “lust” translates the Greek word “epithumia” which is a noun suggesting a strong desire, but not necessarily something evil. It is used of the longing experienced by the Prodigal Son when he desired to eat the husks designated as food for the hogs. (Luke 15.16 – “fain”) Epithumia is is used of a good desire in Matthew 13.17 where it is used of the great longing in the hearts of good men and prophets who sought to see the things of the Kingdom of God. It is also used in a good sense in Luke 22.15; Philippians 1.23, and I Thessalonians 2.17.
W.E. Vine suggests that everywhere else it has a bad sense. In Romans 6.12 the injunction against letting sin reign in our mortal body to obey the “lust” thereof, refers to those evil desires which are ready to express themselves in bodily activity. They are equally the “lusts” of the flesh, (Romans 13.14; Galatians 5.16, 24; Ephesians 2.3; II Peter 2.18; and I John 2.16), a phrase which describes the emotions of the soul, the natural tendency towards things evil. Such “lusts” are not necessarily base and immoral, they may be refined in character, but are evil if inconsistent with the will of God.
When an individual is overcome by these types of desires, their “desire to have” becomes a driving force that may lead them away from following closely after the Lord of their salvation. The word “desire” translates the Greek word “zeloo.” It seems obvious that this word is the one from which we get our word “zeal” meaning a burning desire to obtain something. This is suggestive of something a person focuses upon and sets as their main purpose in life to obtain. This becomes their personal obsession. While there is nothing wrong with yearning for something, it becomes sinful when we long for it only to consume (dapanáō – “to waste, consume”) it for our own purposes without using it for something to bring glory to God. The suggestion is one of self-satisfaction and self-indulgence.
Furthermore, the wasted resources are spent upon short-lived personal pleasures which can satisfy only for a moment. All such striving is futile since our heavenly Father offers to us all things we need in order to live a productively righteous life and to be complete in the One with whom we have to do.
Peter writes of this sufficiency found in Christ: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (II Peter 1.3, 4) While we should all strive for the mastery (II Timothy 2.5) of whatever God has called us, we should lust after those things that please Him and lay aside those things which are used only to find personal fulfillment and sensual satisfaction.
Our lives should be designed to develop a life-style in which we live only to be pleasing in our Savior’s eyes.
In James 4.2 the term “lust” translates the Greek word “epithumia” which is a noun suggesting a strong desire, but not necessarily something evil. It is used of the longing experienced by the Prodigal Son when he desired to eat the husks designated as food for the hogs. (Luke 15.16 – “fain”) Epithumia is is used of a good desire in Matthew 13.17 where it is used of the great longing in the hearts of good men and prophets who sought to see the things of the Kingdom of God. It is also used in a good sense in Luke 22.15; Philippians 1.23, and I Thessalonians 2.17.
W.E. Vine suggests that everywhere else it has a bad sense. In Romans 6.12 the injunction against letting sin reign in our mortal body to obey the “lust” thereof, refers to those evil desires which are ready to express themselves in bodily activity. They are equally the “lusts” of the flesh, (Romans 13.14; Galatians 5.16, 24; Ephesians 2.3; II Peter 2.18; and I John 2.16), a phrase which describes the emotions of the soul, the natural tendency towards things evil. Such “lusts” are not necessarily base and immoral, they may be refined in character, but are evil if inconsistent with the will of God.
When an individual is overcome by these types of desires, their “desire to have” becomes a driving force that may lead them away from following closely after the Lord of their salvation. The word “desire” translates the Greek word “zeloo.” It seems obvious that this word is the one from which we get our word “zeal” meaning a burning desire to obtain something. This is suggestive of something a person focuses upon and sets as their main purpose in life to obtain. This becomes their personal obsession. While there is nothing wrong with yearning for something, it becomes sinful when we long for it only to consume (dapanáō – “to waste, consume”) it for our own purposes without using it for something to bring glory to God. The suggestion is one of self-satisfaction and self-indulgence.
Furthermore, the wasted resources are spent upon short-lived personal pleasures which can satisfy only for a moment. All such striving is futile since our heavenly Father offers to us all things we need in order to live a productively righteous life and to be complete in the One with whom we have to do.
Peter writes of this sufficiency found in Christ: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (II Peter 1.3, 4) While we should all strive for the mastery (II Timothy 2.5) of whatever God has called us, we should lust after those things that please Him and lay aside those things which are used only to find personal fulfillment and sensual satisfaction.
Our lives should be designed to develop a life-style in which we live only to be pleasing in our Savior’s eyes.
Copyright © 2023 Dr. John H. Hill, All rights reserved.
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