CHRISTIAN LIFE & GROWTH
The Difference between Lust and Attraction
By Larry Greco
It has been said there is a distinct difference between finding a woman attractive and finding her sexually attractive. It would be very hard to challenge a clear difference.
God created "Male and Female" and sexual attraction is normal — and it would seem to be expected. Anyone who is not attracted to the opposite sex probably has emotional or health issues.
Now everything here can go for women as well. A woman can find a male attractive, or she could have thoughts of the flesh about him, but just finding him to be an attractive person is normal.
Looking at a person and finding them attractive is not the same as looking at a person and finding them sexually attractive and thinking lustful thoughts about them. Lusting after a person is wrong and sinful.
Matthew 5:28 says, "But I say to you whoever looks at a woman to lust for her already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Now, to say a man being sexually attracted to a female falls under the condemnation of Jesus is to put every unmarried male in a difficult position.
Can men date? Become engaged, and plan a future life with one of the opposite sex without thoughts of sexual desire? It would seem not.
So, what is the difference? Such men are seeking and planning a "lawful" gratification of those desires. It would seem that this is a good point: the motivation determines the condemnation.
It is when a person seeks or is motivated to meet the needs of sexual gratification in an "unlawful" manner that it becomes a sin.
It seems that we should look at it this way:
Jesus states in Matthew 5:28 that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her, to think to lustful thoughts about her, is wrong, and that lust is a sin.
But stating or thinking that a woman is attractive does not have to lead to lusting for the woman. To think a woman is attractive is not a sin.
To seek out and plan opportunities to fulfill sexual gratification with her is a sin.
So, to think that a girl/woman is attractive is normal, but to lust for any person and to think thoughts of lust about them is a sin.
So, keep your thoughts pure in heart, and love one another as Jesus loves us.
John 13:34 says, "A new command I give you: Love one another, just as I have loved you. You must also love one another."
The most important thing is that you believe in God, and that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died on the cross for your sins, and on the third day He rose from the dead. If you confess this with your mouth to others and believe this in your heart, you will be saved and you will have your place in Heaven with Jesus. Amen!
You will also have forgiveness for any sin, including lust, and the help of the Holy Spirit to avoid lust in the future.
John 14:3 says, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am."
And Romans 10:9 says, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Image Credit: Zuhair A. Al-Traifi; "Hidden Faces project"; Creative Commons
Tags: Biblical-Truth | Christian-Life | Personal-Relationships | Sin-Evil
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Published 11-6-14
