Love is the foundation of families and stable societies. Lust is a physical emotion that we act upon in the "heat of the moment....
There is a vast difference between love and lust. Lust only cares for itself. It is focused totally on the object of its desire in order to fulfill it's own selfish desires. On the other hand, love is completely unselfish. Love has compassion for the object of its affection. Love does not expect anything in return. Love transcends the material world and is solely focused on spiritual things. Love is God. God is the source of real love. See below for Biblical advice and scriptures concerning telling the difference between love and lust.
Lust Only Cares For Itself.
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. Lust has no room for love or compassion.
Love Is Unselfish.
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 Comes From The Heart, 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's sole motive is to bestow affection and compassion upon people and God.
Love Is God, Lust Is Not.
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. Anyone without love does not have God in him. Anyone with true "agape" love has God in him.
It's lust if:
You're totally focused on her looks and body
Even before you know her name, you're already fantasizing about what she looks like naked and what it would be like to have sex with her.
You don't care about anything she has to say
It wouldn't make a difference to you if you never had a conversation with her. Furthermore, you don't bother to return her calls promptly and you can easily go for days without talking to her -- until you get horny again.
You only want to be with her to have sex
You make excuses not to spend time with her, except for sex. And if she asks you for a favor, you tell her you're too busy. But if you have to be with her and not have sex, she gets on your nerves and you find yourself fantasizing about other women.
She's your booty call
After you go out trolling for tail with your buddies on Friday night, you then call her at 1 a.m. for some drunken action. Ah, the booty call.
You leave after sex
After having sex with her, you look for the easiest way to leave. No cuddling, no breakfast the next morning, just "I gotta go."
You have great chemistry
You get lost in your conversations, and the hours pass like minutes. You're more than willing to listen to her when she talks about her day. The chemistry between you is remarkable.
You find her beautiful
Even if you catch her with no makeup on and her hair pulled back while she's unclogging a toilet, she still looks beautiful to you.
You want to spend time with her
All you want to do is to be with her, whether you're having sex or not. Even if she tells you that sex will have to wait, you don't care.
You see a future together
You experience the strange feeling that your life would be totally empty without her. You tell your friends and family that she may be The One, and you're even thinking about marrying her.
You introduce her to your family
It becomes very important to you that your parents like her, and that she gets along with everyone close to you.
You include her in all your plans
Whether you're going out with your male friends or taking your dog for a walk, you want her there with you. And if she's not there, you can't get her off your mind and sneak off to give her a quick "I miss you" phone call. Of course, you don't tell your buddies.
You are more romantic
All of a sudden you find yourself listening to cheesy romantic songs and thinking of her. You send her flowers and love notes to work and set up romantic evenings candlelit dinners at home.
You always take her side
If someone says anything even slightly disparaging about her, you immediately rise to her defense. Furthermore, in social gatherings, you always agree with her even if you disagree behind closed doors.
She makes you want to be a better man
She challenges and motivates you. She makes you happy, and you'd do anything to make her happy.
