The Good and Evil of Desire

nam-eno · Newbie Joined: Jul 05, 2007 Posts: 77 Status: **Offline**

071209

If we were to follow the word of the Lord, would not our lives be simpler, happier, more peaceful? What are we being asked to do that is so difficult to understand, to believe, to live?

It starts with the commandments to love God and one another. We are told that all the law and all the prophecies are derived from this. If we could make our daily decisions based upon this, would not our lives be more serene and less stressful?

What, then, keeps us from following these words? What, then, drives us away from the mark of following the commandments of our Lord? Is it our weakness in seeking our desires?

Desire, in of itself is not evil. Desire can motivate us to many things, to perform many deeds consistent with the Word of the Lord. Seeking to fulfill our desires without first considering the Word of the Lord is our path to sin.

When desire turns to greed, we seek regardless of the harm to others. We fail to earn, instead we steal. We fail to respect, instead we covet. We torment ourselves with the target of our desire.

As our desires turn us to selfishness, we are divided from others. Families are divided, communities are divided, nations are divided, the world is divided. Strife and torment are the wages of desire rooted in greed and selfishness.

Lying, thieving, killing are all rooted in selfish desire. Selfish desire only breeds more of itself such that it becomes a consuming furnace of tragedy. We become so consumed, we push all else aside. Love singes into hate, hate pulls us into darkness and eternal pain.

By ourselves, we cannot stop this fall. Left without a saving grace, we have no hope. Our salvation is in the Word made flesh. Our Savior, who died for us and rose for us is our saving grace. If we turn to His word, if we seek to fulfill His commandments, not only will we see a brighter world, we will find the path to an eternal life with our Lord in heaven.

We must be on guard for where selfish desire creeps into our lives. We must be on guard for the temptations that lead us away from the fulfillment of His word; and when we see such things creep into our lives, we must pray for His strength so that we may live in His light so that we are not pulled into the darkness.

Dear Lord, help me to see where I am driven by selfish desire that leads me away from Your light. Guide me to the desire to fulfill Your will. Give me strength to seek Your light and resist the efforts of Satan to pull me into darkness. Amen.

Peace be with you,
Nam Eno