Jesus is the reason for the season. It is a well-known sentiment shared among many Christians this time of year. The simple phrase heralding the centrality of Jesus stands juxtaposed with the rest of the world’s insatiable appetite for more. Although Christmas is supposed to be a time of giving and celebrating the birth of the Savior, the season serves as a glaring diagnosis of a terminal condition festering in the human heart. The terminal condition is spiritual, and its root causes are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. 1 John 2:15-17
I’m not one to rain on anyone’s parade or be a grinch this time of year. I love celebrating Christmas, spending time with loved ones, and swapping gifts. I’m going to address something very different than the godly attitude of a Christian at Christmas. The human condition we will focus on goes well beyond the Christmas season, but the holidays serve as a magnifying glass through which we view the wretched condition of the human heart apart from Jesus.
We see the same sad scenario play out year after year. Millions of people spend the last Thursday in November enjoying a feast around a table with family. Prayers of thanksgiving and renewed care for fellow man are everywhere. The next morning, many of these same ‘thankful’ people will be engaging in the worst types of human behavior. There is hair pulling, fist fighting, trampling, cursing, beatings, and murder. This vile behavior is said to be brought on by several factors. It could be a limited number of the season’s coveted toys, a place in the checkout line, or a prime parking spot in a crowded mall. People will spend countless hours lined up in the middle of the night to get a bargain on a flat-screen television but will spend little or no time reading the Bible, praying, or going to church. I see this type of behavior as indicative of something far worse. It is a spiritual condition mired in lust, pride, and greed. This terminal spiritual condition can be seen in homes, offices, campuses, and even churches throughout the year.
People are climbing corporate ladders and stepping on heads to the top. People think very little of trashing others while building themselves up. Social media is a great tool and can be a great evangelistic and discipleship resource. It is also an unfortunate platform for some of the worst human behavior. Fighting, name-calling, reputation tarnishing, bragging, and the boastful pride of life are on display for all to see. People will jockey for positions of recognition. Some will even get involved in ministry out of selfish ambition or vain conceit to be recognized instead of serving the Lord in humility. The Bible says, “This is not from the Father but from the world.” James 4:1-3
What is the lust of the flesh? Simply put, anything appeals to a man’s or women’s fallen nature. The flesh is the nature we receive at our physical birth. Once born again, we receive a new nature, the Holy Spirit to direct us. It is up to us to recognize the lust of the flesh when it creeps in and deal with it promptly. Enjoying food is one thing, but gluttony is a sin. Relaxation and sleep are rewarding, but being slothful and lazy isn’t godly. Sex inside of a loving marriage, one man one woman for life is a gift. When this gift is traded for lust, indulgence, porn addiction, or longing for others who aren’t our spouse, it is the lust of the flesh and sin.
What is the lust of the eyes? Our eyes have an appetite, and if we don’t guard our eyes, lustful desires are fomented. These are pleasures that gratify the sight. These aren’t the good pleasures of the eyes like a mountain view, a sunset, or the loveliness of your spouse. Lusts of the eyes are sinful pleasures like desiring the pretty woman in the office you can’t take your eyes off who is ” just a friend.” It might be the handsome neighbor who “really understands you.” It might be that great concert or professional sports event you have prime tickets for again instead of taking the time to bring your family to church. Maybe you need to buy that perfect camper, but the Lord would have you put it on hold so you can bless others who have nothing. Our eyes like other senses are gateways into our minds. Therefore we must guard them at all costs. Psalm 101:3
Here is a good test regarding the lust of the flesh and eyes. Does what I’m desiring, thinking upon, or engaging in line up with God’s word? Would I be comfortable if the Lord Jesus was right here with me? If the answer is no, that is a strong indicator we need to stop and seek the Lord.
What is the pride of life or as some translations say, the boastful pride of life? The pride of life is at its very nature, boasting in self, achievements, and positions and relishing the praise of others. The pride of life can have elements of the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes. The sin of the pride of life turns one’s heart inward toward self-exaltation rather than living with a heart full of humility and gratitude toward God. Here are a few examples of a person full of pride of life compared to the heart after God.
Pride of life boasts of being the picture of perfect health rather than thanking God for every new morning and breath. Pride of life boasts of having the perfect spouse, while the grateful heart knows a good wife is a gift from God. Pride of life looks at the great company built by the self-made man and boasts, but the godly business owner knows where the blessing comes from. Pride of life looks at his or her six-figure retirement account and beautiful home and knows the praise of envious people. Still, resourceful believer understands the Lord gives and takes away while continually blessing His name. Pride of life stands proudly looking over all he or she has accomplished, but the godly know the Lord who brings the increase. Pride of life boasts that his church is the model for growth and success every Sunday, while the humble shepherd or teacher knows to be completely dependent on the Lord, and he will bear good fruit. Luke 12: 16-21
As we approach the Christmas season, we will see the world, its lusts, and its self-made boastful pride on full display. There is a reason why the 24-hour marketing push for things like cars, vacations, endless entertainment, furniture, and personal pleasure is so prevalent this time of year. It is because we cannot get enough of ourselves. Television, radio, print, and especially social media place an inordinate amount of emphasis on the self. While this is the case during the holidays, the marketing push is nothing new. People buy things to make themselves look, feel, act, and be perceived as better. People seek the esteem of others through acquiring things, personal achievements, building net worth, and gaining name recognition.
The holiday season magnifies the same desire to satisfy the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life we see throughout the rest of the year. Retailers start putting up Christmas decorations in October now. You can have Amazon bring products right to your door in hours. Every waking hour can be entertained by an endless onslaught of social media via countless smartphones, tablets, and other devices. Man will continue to idolize the god of self in an endless flow of new things, status updates, and selfish ambitions. He or she may feel temporary satisfaction in power or position, but when it comes to a person’s heart, those things can only bring temporary satisfaction. I want to tell you there isn’t a corporate ladder high enough, a bank account fat enough, a garage full enough, or a large enough contact list to satisfy you. Jesus is the only answer to the longings of the human heart. John 6:35-37
True lasting fulfillment, peace, and belonging are found only in Jesus. If you are a believer, use this season to live before those you come into contact with as an example of a truly joyful person. Be sure to give them a reason for your hope inside with gentleness and respect. If you just happened upon this article and feel a sense of desperation to grab more time, looks, riches, power, love, acceptance, or anything else we see most of the world striving for, please heed the words of Jesus when He tells you that you can be filled. He is the One who can meet you right where you are and fill your heart. He can cleanse your sins, lustful desires, and prideful attitude and make your brand new. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life drive the whole world’s desire, but Jesus can be your heart’s desire. If you have questions about what it means to be saved and follow Jesus, click here to find answers.
All for Him,
Howard
