“Desire without knowledge is not good… What is desired in man is steadfast love…” – Proverbs 20:2a & 22a                                              

Scripture reading: Proverbs 20:1-30

What is desire? It is to have an appetite or fondness for something outside of oneself. It is a longing or craving for something that brings satisfaction or enjoyment. Someone once said “desire is like a river, as long as it flows within the banks of God’s will, all will be well. But if, it overflows those banks, it leads to all sorts of problems” How true! 

Desire can lead to sin. James speaks of temptation as being enticed by one’s own desire flowing out of our sinful flesh.  One way to define the flesh is to drop the h and spell the remaining letters backwards. What do you have? SELF!  Misplaced desire is self-centeredness, selfishness tending to focus on my own needs while being thoughtless and inconsiderate of the needs or feelings of others.

However, we are also to earnestly desire the higher gifts (I Corinthians 12:31), the greatest of which is love. Proper desire requires knowledge and is rooted in steadfast love (Proverbs 20:2 & 22). In the context of fretfulness (because of evildoers), the Psalmist encourages the believer to delight in the LORD, and He “will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). 

But our greatest desire must always be the glory of God rooted in Christ. 

Suggestions for prayer

Pray that Christ may always be our hope and heart’s desire 

Rev. Peter Vellenga is presently serving as itinerant preacher waiting upon Lord for continued assignment.