1 John 3:17. A key difference between love and lust is that lust only cares for itself (self love). Lust always focuses on an object to fulfill its desire. This object can be a woman, money, a car, a dress, fried chicken - anything. From lust's perspective its object of affection is only there to fulfill. Lust has no compassion for what it lusts for. Lust only shows affection until it finishes using the object of its desire. Lust is a selfish taker that is only concerned with fulfilling its own needs. Lust and love do not co-exist. Lust has no room for love or compassion (1 John 3:17, "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?").

BIBLE SCRIPTURE: 1 John 3:17, "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"

1 Corinthians 13:5. Another key difference between love and lust is that love is completely unselfish. Love has compassion for the object of its affection. Christian love is "agape" love, a love that offers unmerited favor. Its affection does not expect anything in return. Love's objects include God and other people. Love is a giver that helps a brother in need with no expectation of getting anything in return. Love is just the opposite of lust. Love does not envy, is not selfish, is not easily provoked, and always seeks to satisfy the needs of others (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;").

BIBLE SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 13:5, love "Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;"

Matthew 22:37. Another key difference between lust and love is that love comes from the heart, but lust comes from the flesh. Lust is part of the material world attempting to satisfy one of the five senses. Lust's sole aim is to satisfy the flesh. Love transcends the material world and is solely focused on spiritual things. Love, unmerited favor, can only come from the heart. Love's sole motive is to bestow affection and compassion upon people and God (Matthew 22:37, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind").

MATTHEW 22 BIBLE SCRIPTURE: Matthew 22:37, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

1 John 4:8. The key difference between lust and love is that love is God and selfish lust is not of God. Like truth, God is the source of all love (1 John 4:8, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love"). Anyone without love does not have God in him. Anyone with true "agape" love has God in him. We will only flee the youthful lusts of our flesh when we start to pursue after God's love (2 Timothy 2:22, "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart"). This is when we start to experience the love of God in us, and then there is no room for the lusts of our flesh.

1 JOHN BIBLE SCRIPTURE: 1 John 4:8, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."