Make No Provision for the Flesh

Romans 13:13-14

Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Romans 13:13-14).

When Paul told the saints in Rome to “make no provision for the flesh,” his admonition had a specific context. He was not warning them about food and shelter for the body. These are necessities (1 Timothy 6:8) and Christians must make provisions in regard to these things (Acts 20:34; 2 Thessalonians 3:8-10). Neglecting such things does not make one more spiritual and righteous. Instead, when Paul addressed this sort of “severe treatment of the body,” he called it “self-made religion” that was “of no value against fleshly indulgence” (Colossians 2:23).

Rather than warning against the necessities of this life, Paul warned the Romans about the lusts of the flesh. James explained why lust is so dangerous:

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death” (James 1:14-15).


Lust leads to sin. Sin leads to death. But Christians are to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14). Jesus lived a sinless life on earth and it is His example that we must strive to follow (1 Peter 2:21-22). So then, knowing that lust leads to sin, how can we choke out lust? We do so by making “no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

To make provision for something is to provide what is necessary for that thing to come about, exist, or continue to exist. It is similar to the idea of the providence of God. God has provided everything necessary for us to come into this world (Genesis 4:1; Psalm 139:13-15), to live (Acts 17:28), and for mankind to continue to survive (Genesis 8:22; Acts 14:17). To make no provision for the flesh means we do not provide what is necessary for sin to enter and remain in our lives. How can we do this?

  • Give no thought to sin – We must keep our minds focused on spiritual things. Paul said, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). Rather than thinking about sinful things, Paul said, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8). If we are to avoid sin, we must not allow our minds to dwell on sinful things.
  • Speak no word of sin – After describing several sins that would bring about “the wrath of God” (Ephesians 5:6), Paul said, “It is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret” (Ephesians 5:12). The instruction to not speak of such sinful things does not include every mention of them because in the previous verse he instructed these brethren to “expose” these sins (Ephesians 5:11). Instead, Paul’s instruction was for them not to speak of their sins in a way that suggested tolerance or approval. To do this leads one to forget how terrible sin is (Romans 6:23; Isaiah 59:2). If we are to avoid sin, we must not speak in a way that is approving or tolerant of sin.
  • Provide no opportunity to sin – There are many ways in which we can give ourselves opportunities to sin. We must learn to take these opportunities away. Strive to eliminate pressure to sin by avoiding evil companions (1 Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 1:10, 15). Avoid situations in which you may be especially vulnerable to temptation as the wise man told his son, “Do not go near the door of [the] house” of the adulteress (Proverbs 5:8). Jesus strongly warned that we must put away everything that causes us to stumble (Matthew 5:29-30). If we are to avoid sin, we must limit the times in which we have convenient opportunities to sin.
  • Have no desire to sin – Lusts are illicit desires. Our lusts lead to sin which leads to death (James 1:14-15). If we are to choke out our lusts, we must change our desires. We can begin to do this by getting our priorities in order. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). We must remember what is truly valuable – the truth (Proverbs 23:23), the sacrifice of Christ on the cross (1 Peter 1:18-19), the hope of eternal life (1 Peter 1:4), etc. – so that we might desire those things rather than the things that are passing away (1 John 2:17; Matthew 6:19; Hebrews 11:24-26; 2 Peter 3:10). If we are to avoid sin, we must learn to value the things of God.

As long as we are living in the flesh, we will have the ability to sin. But we must work diligently to overcome sin in our lives. We can go a long way toward doing this is by cutting off every road leading to sin that we possibly can. Peter described the devil as one who “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Paul told the brethren in Ephesus, “Do not give the devil an opportunity” (Ephesians 4:27). Do not make his task any easier. Peter said, “Resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:9). Or as Paul said, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Romans 13:14).


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Comments

  1. David Clark says

    What a terrific article! Very practical advice with abundant scriptural backing. I look forward to the article each week.

  2. Thanks, David!