Consider for a moment, every temptation, every trial, and all the suffering we experience falls into one of three categories. It all started back in the Garden with Adam and Eve. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat”, Genesis 3:6. There you have it, the struggles we all face; Good for food (lust of the flesh), pleasant to the eyes (lust of the eyes), and to make one wise (the pride of life).
I John 2:16 reinforces the notion that everything falls into either the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes or the pride of life. Think about it for a moment. What was the last test or trial that you went through? How does it relate to this? What was at stake? It should be easy to understand what is happening in your life when you begin categorizing the events. In order to do that, we must first do a word study, so that we can clearly understand the three categories.
Lust is a strong desire of any kind. Lust is not necessarily evil or immoral. The word desire is used in the following scriptures, Luke 22:15 ; Philippians 1”23; 1 Thessalonians 2:17 ; 1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Peter 2:2. Review them and see what strong desires were mentioned. Lust or strong desire becomes evil when it is inconsistent with the will of God.
Lust (strong desire) of the flesh is a craving for sensual gratification, relating to the five senses.
Lust (strong desire) of the eyes is greedy longings of the mind.
Pride (excessive self esteem) of life is assurance is one’s own resources, and stability of earthly things.
Trials have a purpose. We cannot reap the benefits of a trial if we never understand what is really going on. When Jesus was tempted (tested) of the Devil there were some specifics going on and Jesus knew it. Jesus had just been anointed for ministry and the Spirit led him into the wilderness to be tested of the devil, and where he fasted for forty day. After the fast the Devil addressed Jesus just as he addressed Adam and Eve in the Garden after God had given them their assignment (Genesis 1:28 ; Genesis 2:15 ). Only this time, Jesus did not give in to his own desires, as did Adam and Eve. Instead Jesus let the enemy of his soul know that He fully understood what the will of the Father was concerning him. He did that by using, speaking forth, the Word of God. It is written, was always his response.
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”, Hebrews 4:15. All points refer to “all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”. There is nothing new under the sun. These three points are the same but some of the details may have changed over the centuries. Flesh is flesh and always wants gratification. The eyes are the same but what it looks upon may have changed a bit. The pride of life never changes and man is always faced with his own ability to get things.
Some might say that Jesus never lived in a world like today, where we are faced with any number of temptations. If you consider these three points, then no argument can be made. Everything that we experience can be related to the flesh, the eyes, or the pride of life. Remember the old saying, keeping up with the Joneses? It usually meant that whatever the Joneses got we had to have it too. If they should get a luxury SUV, then we have to get one, the lust of the eyes. Suppose Mr. Jones is good to his wife and gives her beautiful things, but you don’t have a husband so you began to lust after Mr. Jones. The flesh wants the same gratification as Mrs. Jones is getting. Suppose Mr. Jones is a high powered business man, and God is not part of his life. Then he is relying on his own ability to get things. God’s will, for us, is to seek after him and not after stuff. (Matthew 6:33)
Life Application: First, make a list of your struggles, we all have them. Next to each struggle write down the area that it fits into. It should be one of the three, flesh, eyes, pride. After you determine what the issues are then speak the word to your situation.
Learn to see your trials for what they are, tools, instruments to shape and form you into the image of Christ Jesus.
Read James 1:12-16.
Your thoughts on this matter are welcomed. Please leave your thoughts and comments in the comment box below.
Yours in Christ,
Rosita
