Lust is a strong craving or desire. It is often an irrational desire...there is more doing than there is thinking. It ranges from lust for sex, money, power, fame and almost every other thing even as little  as a ralph lauren polo. That you can even borrow or steal as a result of the desire to own it. Because of the vast nature of lust i'd like us to major on lust for sex and lust for money.

LUST FOR SEX
We all know deep down inside that the pot of hormones simmering within can turn into a boil in a micro-second. Given certain conditions any of us could fall, not just into lust but into sin. From the beginning of time lust has been a struggle. Even David "The man after God's heart" struggled with lust (2 samuel 11)the account of David and Bathsheba which  led him to adultery. The great apostle paul even confirmed this by saying in (2 corinthians 11:29)"when others are weak, i am weak too. When others are tricked into sin, i also burn. This leads me to the question IS LUST FOR SEX AVOIDABLE?

LUST FOR MONEY
This drives most of us. Whether believers or not. Lets take a look at the account of our own very Judas iscariot,chosen by Jesus himself to be a disciple. (Matthew 10:4). You see when you are lusting you begin to notice craft, a need for secrecy, little or no morals, compromise. Something beyond a natural need for money. Natural need for money in that you can pay your bills, you have the clothes you need for school, you have the money for your handouts for those of us in school. And then you start desiring to own a car and devising devious means of achieving it and these days, the first thing that'll pop up to mind for the young ones is "yahoo or gee". And for our married ones, you have a place to live, you can pay the fees of junior and clara 😉, there is some money in the bank for emergencies, perhaps money for occasional family trips, maybe a car with insurance in place and then you start thinking of that money in the office that no one would notice if it vanishes because of a shoe you saw in "HOUSE of FREEDA" that goes for 35k. Don't say 👀It happens nau... 😀.

 LEARN TO WALK BY THE SPIRIT (Galatians 5:16)

The alluring power of lust overwhelms you as soon as you trust in your ability to overcome. Do not get me wrong, remember (Colossians 2:20-23). I would've said open your Bible, but well it says "since you died with christ to the basic principles of this world, why,  as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules :" Do not handle!  Do not taste!  Do not touch! "? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence ". It is important to note that rules are not enough because rules cannot overcome fully charged hormones.
DON'T TAKE THAT SECOND LOOK.

The first look is unavoidable my dear you see, but that second look gets us into trouble. I don't just mean the girl who is hot oh or the guy with six packs oh. I mean even that spicy food, that small black wrist watch, the glassy heel and the laptop that is screen touch. Even that chord that charges faster than yours.
Lust begets sin. All kinds of sin. From stealing to cheating, adultery, fornication,Lying.... et.c
LET YOUR SAFEGUARD BE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS and YOUR WIFE (if any)

I know some of us that are pastors will say i don't shut the door to my office when counselling a person of the opposite sex or i don't stay alone... et.c
Trust me, great men of God have fallen into sexual sin and some of them had these boundaries in place. LUST WILL PICK A LOCK. lust will find a way around the safeguard and feed it's ravenous hunger for satisfaction. The only real safeguard is a strong relationship with jesus and if married, a strong relationship with your wife.
Lust has as its focus pleasing oneself, and it often leads to unwholesome actions to fulfil one's desires with no regard to the consequences. Lust is about possession and greed. The Christian faith is about selflessness and is marked by holy living (Romans 6:19, 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30, 6:19-20; Ephesians 1:4, 4:24; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, 5:23; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16). The goal of each person who has put his/her faith in Jesus Christ is to become more and more like Him each day. This means putting off the old way of life of which sin was in control, and conforming one's thoughts and actions to the standard put forth in Scripture. Lust is in opposition to this ideal.

Nobody will ever be perfect or attain sinlessness while still on this earth, yet it is still a goal for which we strive. The Bible makes a very strong statement regarding this in 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8, "God has called us to be holy, not to live impure lives. Anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human rules but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you." If lust has not yet gripped your heart and mind, ready yourself through a life lived above reproach to combat the temptations of lust. If you currently struggle with lust, it is time to come clean before God and ask for His intervention in your life, so that holiness can be a mark of your life as well.