Our Bible presents the worldly ways in the words of 1 John 2:15—’All that is in the world; the lust of eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride or vainglory.’ As we see movies and television, and as we hear others as we grow up, we become acquainted with various forms of the flesh.
No wonder there is a stark difference between lust and love (1 Corinthians 13). Described in this chapter is the love that God desires us to have and cultivate. This love ‘worketh no evil, is not easily provoked and does not behave itself unseemly’ [evil conduct]. It never fails! Contrast this description with the outcome of lust, which always saddles the person with guilt and regret, surprises of the unplanned and failures of anything worthwhile.
To grow in God’s teaching (1 Peter 2:1-2) is to become the servant of God and of others. This verse leads off with commands to put away malice and guile, hypocrisies and envying, as well as all evil speaking. Movies and television promote the very ungodly traits that Christians are to expunge from their lives. Instead, as newborn babes desire milk, so the servant of God craves the sincere milk of God’s Word to grow up with love that God desires us to possess.
Remember, 1 Corinthians 13 begins with the admonition to not think if we give our bodies to be burned and bestow all our goods to feed the poor, that we have done well, if charity (God–like love) is absent in the child of God.
