How can we guard against becoming "well-fed, lusty stallions" in our lives? Setting the Scene “‘They were well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing after his neighbor’s wife.’” (Jeremiah 5:8) Jeremiah paints a vivid picture: a people blessed with plenty who let comfort erode holiness, turning desire loose until marriage vows, neighborly love, and covenant loyalty were trampled. The warning is timeless—prosperity can fatten the flesh and starve the spirit. Spotting the Early Signs • Diminishing appetite for Scripture while appetite for entertainment grows • Prayer squeezed into the margins of a crowded schedule • Eyes roaming where they should not, justifying “harmless” glances • Spending that drifts from stewardship to self-indulgence • Jokes, media choices, or conversations that normalize impurity • Erosion of gratitude; blessings assumed, not cherished Practical Guards for the Heart • Daily Scripture intake “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) – Schedule it like a meal; the soul needs feeding just as predictably. • Strategic fasting “I discipline my body and make it my slave.” (1 Corinthians 9:27) – Regularly abstain—from food, screens, spending—to remind the body who is master. • Covenant with the eyes “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” (Job 31:1) – Install filters, set limits, and turn away instantly when temptation flashes. • Pursuit of contentment “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6) – List blessings aloud; thank God for each. Contented hearts lust less. • Active service “Through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13) – Volunteer, give, mentor. Outward focus drains self-absorption. Strengthening Accountability • Share battles with a trusted believer; concealment breeds infection. • Invite hard questions about screen time, spending, and sexual purity. • Use communal tools—shared budgets, filtered devices, group Bible plans. Stewarding Prosperity Wisely • Firstfruits giving (Proverbs 3:9) re-centers finances on God’s kingdom. • Budget cap on lifestyle upgrades; extra income directed to generosity. • Regularly audit possessions: keep, give, sell. A moving stream stays fresh. Living Repentant and Ready • Quick confession keeps sin from calcifying (1 John 1:9). • Remember the stakes: “Because of these things, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.” (Colossians 3:6) • Fix hope on Christ’s return (1 Peter 1:13); urgency cools lust. Keeping the Spirit Fed, the Stallion Tamed • Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). • Meditate on Philippians 4:8 to retrain thought patterns. • Sing truth; worship tunes the heart to heaven’s pitch. Prosperity is a blessing, not a permission slip. Harnessed under Christ’s lordship, it funds generosity and fuels worship. Unbridled, it turns believers into “well-fed, lusty stallions.” The safeguard is deliberate, daily submission to the Shepherd who alone satisfies. |
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