We’ve talked about the different Hebrew aspects, and as Mark 4:19 speaks of the “lusts of other things” —you remember—“all that’s in the world” (1 John 2:16).  The lust of other things.  That word “lust,” used there in the Greek, means to “set your heart upon something.”  It’s not just, “Oh, I’d like to have this” or “I’d like to have that.”  It’s now setting your heart upon it.  And without it, just like Ahab having to take the groves that were there beside the wall.  He’s the king, has just about everything, but he set his heart upon that.  There was all that he possessed, and yet this lust, this greed rising up in the king, eventually caused him to be killed and brought no contentment. 

Lust means a longing, a strong desire.  Often, the commentator went on to say, it’s stirred up by forbidden fruit, and to not have it, like Ahab, brings about a depression.  One of the words has to do with letting out a sigh, just, “I can’t have what I want.”  Does anything you know attract you to that degree, and if not, are you being drawn toward something that could?  Then today would probably be the day to repent and turn and change your course.  Jesus turned to the rich man and said in answer to his “What else can I do,” and He said, “Sell everything you have, give it to the poor and come and follow Me.”  You notice Jesus doesn’t require that of everybody.  Every believer doesn’t have to sell everything, it’s the people that are bound by it.  He hung his head, walked away in sorrow, for he was very rich.  When you get so rich that you can’t give it all away, you’re in trouble.

Father, we thank You for Your great presence and grace manifested to us.  You want us to be a people that are blessed.  You’ve said in Your Word—Deuteronomy 8:18, You’ve said in Your Word that “You are the One that gives us power to obtain wealth” that we might establish Your covenant.  You said in Proverbs 3 that we’re to honor You with all of our giving and that our barns will be filled with plenty, and our presses shall burst forth with abundance.  You’ve declared that both riches and honor come from You.  You want to bless us.  So, we ask You for the grace that would work character in us, contentment in us, that would destroy self-reliance.  We need You, Lord, in this hour.  We’re surrounded in this crooked and perverse generation with such idolatry and covetousness which is idolatry.  The love, the lust for things, and not for You.  Loose us from it, Father, and we’ll give You all the praise, in Jesus’ name, amen.