Lust, its standard definition is about sexual desire, but it can simply mean a strong desire anything.
As I’ve highlighted Proverbs teaching around staying far away from inappropriate sexual situations, let’s consider chapter 7 in a broader light.
The chapter again begins with the words of encouragement to keep the commandments, to write them on the very “tablet of our hearts”.
Then the persona of Wisdom notes what she has seen. She has seen the young man, taking the road to a prostitute.
And just like the word lust can have a broader meaning, so too the word prostitute or harlot. For example, in Ezekiel 16 the word is used figuratively for person who misuses their talents, or sacrifices their self-respect, for personal gain or pleasure. In the process they betray themselves and those who truly love them.
This prostitute lures this young man for their gain. He in turn lusts this person or this thing. In the end it will cost them both their very lives.
There are many things and people in the world who present an offer to us.
When any of those things or people, so dominates us that our desire for it is best described with the word lust, then we are in danger.
I find it interesting that the text describes the prostitute as loud, and further uses language to show how aggressive they are.
It is curious to me how we hear what we desire. Further, how we observe more quickly that which we want.
What is it that tempts you? What is it that draws you? Is there something or some person which in the saner moments of your day you regret giving so much of yourself—your time, or talent, or treasure—to this thing or person?
Is it something we typically label as a vice? Those are often easy for us to identify.
But there can be other things that can take this position in our lives. Is it work? Is it something that really is good, but your pursuit of it, your desire for it, is, well, out of whack?
Sit with God today for a moment and pray, “Lord, show me what in my life am I lusting after—help me Lord to seek you more than anything or anyone.”