There is a difference between desire (or attraction) and lust. I desire my wife, but in the strictest sense I do not lust after her. The attitude of lust is really an entity in itself, and involves greed, covetousness, selfishness and other things. Notice how Jesus doesn't just refer to lust as sexual desire. Lusting after the flesh, or things of this world, was just as pertinent in his messages. If I can make a (probably bad) example I believe that lust is an opposite to love. Yes, I know the comparisons of love and hate, and love and fear, but bear with me. In its simplest form, lust is the desire to take. Plain and simple. "I want that. I want this. I want her. I want him." Specifically here when you lust after somebody, it is really a desire to take pleasure from them. Lust usually does not involve any concern for the person. It is wholely and solely selfish. Love, in its simplest form, is the desire to give. While we may take pleasure in the other person, that pleasure comes from the giving and sharing in that relationship. It becomes a mutual thing, in which each gives and receives. Ideally, there is no 'taking' in love. Attraction and desire can be a part of lust, or they can be a part of love (the romantic/sexual love, as opposed to brotherly or charity love). In this case, I can be attracted to, or desire, the the other person, but it is part of a larger attitude. The attraction or desire now is a part of the wanting to be with that person, of wanting to share. It's a mutual thing. That, I believe, is one of the main differences between sex and lovemaking. Sex is about taking. Lovemaking is about giving. I could be wrong, though...

Get to know her spiritually first. Does she love God? Is she compassionate to others? Is she faithful and loyal? Are you compatable in your faith and commitment to Jesus Christ? Does she compromise and/or justify herself? Hopefully this woman will be asking the same things about you. Get to know her emotionally and psychologically next. When does she want to have children? How many? What is her profession and/or professional goal(s)? Does she have any addictions? Etc, etc. Again, hopefully she will be asking the same about you. Attraction to the physical is the least stable aspect of a relationship; it won't support anything in a crisis. What higher honor can you give a woman than to refrain from sex until you've vowed your life to her in marriage. That is truly loving the real "her". Giving into to physical lust before knowing a woman spiritually and emotionally only cripples your ability to truly communicate and build something lasting together. A woman deserves much more than to be treated as an object of gratification. God created in her a beauty, intuition and rich love of life that will bless the man who would offer her a relationship sown in integrity and godly perspective. Scripture teaches to love her as Christ loved the church. That means being willing to give your life AND live your life for her. A woman will follow such a man to the ends of the earth.

I want to answer this from another aspect. I wont address lust directly, I will address 100% of what men feel about woman (whether that man is a Christian, muslim, atheist ect..) Most all men get aroused by just the mere sight of a woman they find sexually desirable. Its just nature. Notice, in nature the fact that the man is aroused by the pleasure that could be enjoyed by being with the sexually desirable woman. This by definition is lust. Thus all men lust. Now most woman are equally shallow and lustful by nature, woman are naturally attracted to strong, wealthy powerful, sexually expressive men. This attraction, by definition is lust. So the question is then this: If all people initially "lust" after there ideal mate, how can this be reconciled with the bible, with morality, with God. This is the question you should ask. The answer lies in the universal God created need of the other person you desire. They were created to be married and have sex, so get married and have sex. Thats the answer. Your partly an animal, all animals get in sexual heat. The only thing you can do about sexual heat. Is have sex. The only biblical way to have sex is to get married to the opposite/sex person of your sexual desire and have sex. (you may want to see if your compatible in other ways to besides sex)

If you go after a woman only because you want to have sex with her,that's lust. If you want to have a lasting relationship with her, then it's love and not lust. +4

Lust in an extreme end of attraction. You're not supposed to be attracted to the point of lust like King David where he had Bathshebas husband killed because he saw her bathing naked on a roof top and lusted after her for himself. THATS lust.

Lust relates to wanting someone or something you cant possibly get. Like lusting for a married woman. Or lusting for your neighbor's new car...to the point of planning to steal it for a joy ride. It isnt related to dating and building relationships.

There is a diffrance between lust and attraction. Attraction is beautful and something to be admired. Lust is letting it get out of controll and not being able to think beyond sexuality.

You must be between the ages of 14 and 25 if you don't know the answer to that.