Love versus Lust

      This is a slight offshoot of my blog last week brought about by reading about a woman who wanted to lust after her husband. And as I gave it some more thought I realized that this is another of the "world's" weaving its way into the lives of people who are trying to be good, but can't seem to see the difference between "in the world" and "of the world"! We need to recognize the fact that there have been so many changes from the time the Savior was upon the earth; some of them good, some not so good and some totally wrong. But we also need to remember that Satan uses little steps to get us to do wrong! And he learned that from the Lord's example of little steps that get us to do right. Satan will use what he can from the Lord's teachings and twist them to his own benefit. After all, that is what he used to get Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit. He spoke some truth, but with twists and turns of his own. And he is still doing it. So with that in mind let's look at this "lust" idea!

     First off we are told that love is good and that love between and husband and wife is one of the highest and most sacred types of love there is. BUT no where in the scriptures will you find that lust is included in that. Nor will you see lust being a good thing. I looked up in a normal old dictionary the definitions of love and lust: Love is a warm and tender liking; deep feelings of fondness and friendship; great affection or devotion. Lust is strong desire; strong sexual desire. Does anyone see the difference here?! Love includes warm and tender feelings of affection and devotion while lust only has desire, especially for sex. So here is the big difference in "of"and "in the world"! The world teaches that sex is okay with anyone and yes, you can fulfill that lustful feeling with anyone and then never see them again. BUT that is not God's plan and it never has been! Families are important to Him and that is what He designed true love between a husband and wife to be. To be filled with love, devotion, respect, caring and creating, such an environment for children to be raised and taught in. A lustful relationship will not do that! Never has! Never will! In fact, if you want to do some research on your own, check out scriptures on lust and try to find one that suggests that it is a good thing.

     As a song says "Love is a many splendoured thing"! And true deep abiding love is. Granted, even between a man and woman who truly love one another, it requires work, effort, patience, communication, forgiveness, compromise, and may I add a few words from scripture: "persusasion, long suffering, gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned,  and kindness"! And you will find none of those words included in any way, shape. or form in the world's definition of love which, in most instances, is lust!!

     We also need to remember that the Lord is NOT going to give us a step by step manual to follow here on earth. He has given us His commandments and asks that we study it in our minds and then seek His guidance and confirmation. We also have present day prophets and apostles who are adding what the Lord sees fit for us to know. BUT it is still on us to do our part to know the difference between His word and the world's twisting of His words. So many scriptures come to mind with this one, but  as the world falls further and further away from the Lord's ways, even twisting many of His words, this quote from Jacob 6:12 seems so appropriate "O be wise; what can I say more?".