The word ‘desire’ is a very broad word and can include things both good and bad. A bad desire is found in Exodus 20:17, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” Speaking of the gifts of the Spirit, a good desire is found in 1 Corinthians 12:31, “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”

  • Job 31:35 says, “Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me.”
  • Psalms 145:19, “He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.”
  • Proverbs 10:24, “The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.”
  • Proverbs 21:25, “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.”
  • Proverbs 24:1, “Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.”

From these few verses, we can easily recognize that there are good desires and bad. We have the promise of fulfilled desires in Psalms 37:4-5, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; AND HE SHALL GIVE THEE THE DESIRES OF THINE HEART. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” The Apostle Paul spoke of a desire to be in Heaven with the Lord in Philippians 1:23, “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.”

The same word translated ‘desire’ is translated ‘lust’ in Romans 13:14, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” That same word is translated ‘concupiscence’ in Colossians 3:5, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

When we fix our eyes upon Christ, our desire will be to please and honor Him. When we fix our eyes upon ourselves or the world, our desire will be to please ourselves. To have ‘desires’ is not bad, so let us make sure that what we desire is directed by the Word of God. (297.10)