Sin & What We Love

Augustine's Confessions are a masterful look into the life of one man through his incredible ability to describe his thoughts, his desires, his heart to God.

Notice (you can read quote in context here at chapter X.16) how he links temptation to sin with what his friend loves:

There was one matter, however, which appealed to his love of learning, in which he was very nearly led astray.

His friend had a love, a desire for learning that needed to be satisfied. Learning is a good thing. There is nothing wrong with learning.

However, it was this good thing that was used by his flesh to almost cause him to stumble, which would've ruined the integrity Augustine was describing previously.

Lesson: Be careful. Even good desires can be used as a motivation for sin. Watch out for this. Thanks again Augustine.