For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world (1 John 2:16)
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are all that is in the world, and the things of the world that worldly people do leads to destruction. Christians are in the world but not of the world (see John 17:14), that is, not to allow all that is in the world to be in them and as such not to do things of the world.
The lust of the flesh–craving for sensual gratification, that is, the pleasure gained from the satisfaction of a desire that is contrary to the will of God. The lust of the flesh is one of the greatest weapons of the god of this world, the devil to lure people away from God into sin and destroy them. The devil knows that the friendship of the world is enmity with God, and a friend of the world is the enemy of God (James 4:4).
The lust of the eyes – greedy longings of the mind. To see or look at something is not a sin but lusting after it is a sin. Jesus said in Matthew 5:28, “But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart”. He further says in verse 29 – 30, “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell”.
The pride of life – assurance in one’s resources or the stability of earthly things, and also to think highly of yourself than you ought to think. Proverbs 11:4,28 says, “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch”. Also, see Romans 12:3, Jeremiah 9:23-24.
Pride is very dangerous in the sense that someone could be manifesting in pride of life and not even know it, and God resists the proud but He only gives grace to the humble (see James 4:6). Pride also leads to shame, destruction, and ruin (see Proverbs 11:2, Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 29:23).
David is one of the examples of those in the Bible that fell into the sin of all that of the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. In 2 Samuel 11:1-4, David slept with Bathsheba, wife of Uriah, one of his soldiers. He always goes with his army to war but this time pride as a king will not let him (Pride of life). 2 Samuel 11:2, says, David saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon (Lust of the eyes). 2 Samuel 11:3-4, David enquired of the woman and finally sent messengers to bring her and he slept with her (Lust of the flesh).
The good news about David was that he did trace his steps back to God and God called him a man after His heart (see 1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22).
So, what are you lusting after?
Do you still watch impure movies, videos, pictures, books, and songs that tend to inflame and debauch your mind makes your body burns? See what Proverbs 6:27-28 says, “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
What are the things you crave for?
James 1:14-15 says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” because the wages of sin is death, see Romans 6:23.
What God is saying simply is that anyone manifesting in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is the enemy of God. As the new 2023 begins, be kind to yourself to mourn your sin (James 4:8-9) and prayerfully do a self-examination which ought to be done daily to know if any of all these that are of the world have a part in you so you can repent and remain a friend of God. You can still trace your steps back to God as David did, so you won’t be your adversary and not be the enemy of your prayers (Psalms 66:18, Isaiah 59:1-2).
As Christians, what we should crave and never be tired of is the righteousness of God, the presence of God, see; Matthew 5:6, Psalms 27:4, Proverbs 8:17, Proverbs 8:35-36, Matthew 6:33.
