Misplaced Desires (Where it All Begins)

Water. Food. Sleep. Shelter. 

We all have basic needs. We all have basic desires. 

From the moment we’re born, we need things. We desire things. 

The story is as old as time (literally). The first man, Adam, needed—desired—a helper. And in their perfect state, both Adam and Eve needed and desired fellowship with God. 

Later, their misplaced desire brought sin and death into the world. To make matters worse, their son, Cain, murdered his younger brother out of pure jealousy—misplaced desire. 

“Misplaced desire will quickly turn to covetousness—the sin of never being satisfied and always wanting more. James wants us to see that conflict begins within ourselves. Our lusts are always out of our reach. We strive to gain what we think will satisfy, only to be left unfulfilled. The reason is: only God can satisfy our hunger and quench our thirst.”

In my book, The Gift of Conflict: The Art of Biblical Reconciliation, we explore the Book of James and the perspective God gives us about our sinful nature, our misplaced desires, and conflict. 

As humans made in God’s image, we’re created with needs and wants and desires. Our very souls crave something; we must find our sustenance in something satisfying. We were created for God—to know Him. But when we place our desires elsewhere and try to fill ourselves with shallow things, temporary things, we plunge further into misery. 

It’s no secret that we’re dealing with misplaced desires in our own lives and in the world around us. If we scroll through the headlines or turn on the news, we will doubtless hear how someone’s misplaced desire is wreaking havoc and creating conflict. 

What do we do? How do we begin to turn our natural, sinful desires into thoughts and actions that will love God and each other? We can start here: 

1. Who We Are Apart from Christ

Apart from Christ, we are spiritually lost and separated from God because of our sinful nature (Romans 3:23). This understanding reveals our need for a Savior and the insufficiency of our own efforts to reach God.

2. Realizing What Christ Has Done for Us

Through His death and resurrection, Christ paid the price for our sins and made reconciliation with God possible. His sacrifice is an unearned gift that offers us forgiveness and new life (Romans 5:8). 

3. Realizing Who We Are Now in Christ 

In Christ, we are made new and given a new identity as children of God, which changes our desires and actions. The Holy Spirit renews our hearts, helping us pursue righteousness and reflect Christ’s love (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

4. The Access We Have to God and the Power of the Holy Spirit

Through Christ, we now have direct access to God and can approach Him with confidence. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live in alignment with God’s will and equips us with the strength to overcome challenges (Ephesians 3:12). 

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Ready to dive deeper into the power of the Gospel? You can enroll here for free! And don’t forget to check out the Gift of Conflict Course. I pray the Lord will bless you richly as your desires become more closely aligned with His. 

In Christ,

-Richard Parrish