The Ways, Words, and Wants of Young Menنموونە

The Wants of Young Men

One of the most widespread sin struggles among young men today – yes, even church-going, Jesus-loving, young men like yourself – has to do with controlling their physical and emotional “wants.”

God fully intends for you to experience romantic attraction, emotional attachment, and physical intimacy. He wired those wants into your DNA. The problem isn’t with the “wants”; the problem is in how you go about satisfying them.

When channeled appropriately (loving commitment, marriage, remaining faithful, etc.), acting on your physical and emotional wants is precisely what God intends for you to do. (Genesis 2:24) It’s when a young man seeks to satisfy his wants in ways that God did not intend (inappropriate websites and apps, even less appropriate social media activities, and all the reckless and risky behaviors that follow) that He disapproves – and that you can find yourself caught up in a very damaging sin struggle.

Where does the Bible discuss your physical and emotional “wants”? Pretty much everywhere!

God makes it clear, again and again throughout Scripture, that there are some roads you should never take in the quest to fulfill your wants. Your online and social media activities can become such roads if you’re not careful, and the danger they represent to your purity and moral self-control is very real. (1 Corinthians 6:18) The threat is so serious that Jesus warns not to even entertain the thought of it! (Matthew 5:28) Such roads – while extremely tempting and, perhaps, even temporarily satisfying – lead only to selfish gratification and self-destruction.

Your Heavenly Father fully understands the weakness you struggle with when it comes to controlling your physical and emotional wants, but that doesn’t mean He’s okay with you giving in to your flesh (Matthew 26:41) at the expense of your purity. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

If this is a temptation you have already given in to, do not be discouraged. (1 Corinthians 10:13) God still loves you. And if you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are already forgiven! (Romans 8:1)

Nevertheless, truly overcoming this particular sin struggle will take spiritual discipline (Galatians 5:16), prayer, and some serious rethinking on your part. (Philippians 4:6-8) You’re a young man of God though; you can do it! (Philippians 4:13)