The best life is a God First life

Category: Birth

Desire Conceived: The Selfish Root of Every Sin

Is there a single sin that cannot be traced back to selfish desires (Lust)?

I can’t think of one; can you? Selfishness seems to be at the root of every sin from Adam and Eve forward.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”   (1 John 2:15-17, emphasis added)

Giving Birth to Sin

 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:13-15, emphasis added)

  • Genesis 3:6
  • Mark 7:21-23
  • Romans 1:24-25
  • Galatians 5:16-17, 19

God First!

Study brings us closer to God

In 2013, someone I was trying to study with mentioned Ecclesiastes 7 and how they could not grasp how going to a funeral is better than going to a party, or that the day of death is better than the day of birth. At the time, I was unfamiliar with these verses, so I went home, researched, studied, and wrote a short synopsis, which we later reviewed together.

This effort was one of the best exercises I could’ve done. Why? Because this study helped us both understand the verses in chapter 7 more fully, and studying draws us closer to God.

Since this experience, I’ve studied Ecclesiastes several times and have found it to be full of good food for thought. Most scholars attribute the book of Ecclesiastes to Solomon’s wisdom. As noted in my synopsis, in these verses, Solomon seems focused on what is good for the soul.  

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 ESV

God First!

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