The Scam of Lust
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 2 Timothy 2:22
The opening line of the email read: “I am a prince who needs your help to transfer a large sum of money. In return, I will reward you generously.”[1]
Hopefully you’ve never received an email like that, because that’s the opening line from a famous email scam that made grandiose promises only to deliver bitter disappointment.
Hearing about people being tricked out of their money fills us with indignation. But scams like this are why God warns His people to resist the pull and temptation of lust. Being consumed with longings not tied to our long-term good, is lust. Lust claims to be worth throwing away our restraint and integrity for a moment of pleasure, but it fails to deliver the lasting contentment, joy, and deep love we were made for.
The Bible says it clearly: “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world” (I John 2:16).
How do we respond to the fake promises of lust that try to lure us into short-sighted, destructive living? The Bible says, run. “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts” (2 Timothy 2:22).
We don’t resist lust by resigning ourselves to a life without pleasure–instead, we embrace a bigger vision for our whole life and eternity. God warns us against lust because He wants us to know true, lasting joy and delight.
Psalm 16:11 declares, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”
[1] Grigutytė, Monika. “The Nigerian Prince scam: everything you need to know.” NordVPN, 5 May 2023, nordvpn.com/blog/nigerian-prince-scam/.