“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:16, NIV)
This post is in continuation to my devotion on the lust of the flesh.
What is the Lust of the Eyes?
The lust of the eyes is the sinful desire stirred by what we see. It’s more than admiring beauty or noticing something attractive — it’s the greedy hunger to possess, covet, or chase after what doesn’t belong to us, or what God never intended for us.
Satan often uses what passes before our eyes to tempt us into envy, greed, discontentment, or lust. The eye becomes the doorway to the heart, where sin takes root.
The Store Window
Think of walking past a store window filled with glittering items. They’re not yours, but they seem to whisper, “You need me to be happy.” The longer you look, the stronger the pull. But walking past a store and looking at “things” can affect your wallet and tempt you to make unwise use of your financial resources. Some other times, it is somebody else’s wife or husband that you look at for a wee bit longer than you should.
That’s the danger of the lust of the eyes — it traps us into believing that joy, identity, or satisfaction can be found in what we see and grab hold of. But the moment we get it, emptiness follows, and the eyes wander again.
Eve in the Garden
When Eve stood before the tree in Eden, notice the detail:
“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.” (Genesis 3:6, NIV)
The fruit looked good. Her eyes stirred desire in her heart, and desire led to disobedience.
Contrast that with Jesus, who was also tempted in this area. Satan showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor and said, “All this I will give you if you bow down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:8–9). But Jesus resisted, keeping His eyes on the Father.
How to Overcome the Lust of the Eyes
- Guard your gaze – Don’t linger where temptation grows. Job made a covenant with his eyes not to look lustfully (Job 31:1). We can do the same.
- Train your focus – Instead of filling your eyes with what leads to envy or impurity, fill them with God’s Word. “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” (Psalm 119:15).
- Practice gratitude – Discontent fuels the lust of the eyes. Gratitude weakens it. When we thank God for what we already have, we lose the hunger for what doesn’t belong to us.
- Look to Jesus – Hebrews 12:2 reminds us to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” When our vision is set on Him, lesser things lose their shine.
Consider the young adults today scrolling through social media. Every post make them feel like they lack something — a better house, a better car, a better job, a fitter body, a happier marriage. The more they look, the more discontent they become.
Recently our church went on a three day social media and screen time fast. It was awesome to see young adults struggling but persisting and encouraging each other to stay away from screen time. The noticeable changes were immediate. They began limiting their screen time and instead started their mornings with God’s Word. They noticed their heart shifting. Gratitude replaced emptiness and envy. Joy replaced discontent.
Their circumstances hadn’t changed — but their focus had.
The lust of the eyes promises satisfaction but delivers emptiness. Fixing your eyes on Jesus, however, brings lasting peace and contentment. When your gaze is filled with God’s beauty and goodness, the glitter of the world fades in comparison.
Reflection Questions
- What are the things your eyes are most drawn to that stir envy, greed, or discontent?
- How can you practically guard your eyes and set healthier boundaries in what you watch, read, or dwell on?
- What is one blessing in your life right now you can thank God for, shifting your focus to gratitude?