1 Corinthians 10:1-13 [1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; [2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; [3] And did all eat the same spiritual meat; [4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. [5] But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. [6] Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. [7] Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. [8] Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. [9] Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. [10] Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. [11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. [12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. [13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
See All... In these verses Paul uses the example of the failure of the people of Israel during the exodus/wilderness period to teach lessons for the church. What are few of theses lessons and how do they apply to believers today?

In a nutshell, this passage lays out five primary examples of failures Christian believers in the age of grace should keep themselves from.

These five are:

1. lusting for evil things [v.6]
2. being idolaters [v.7]
3. committing fornication [v.8]
4. tempting God [v.9]
5. murmuring [v.10]

The first thing you notice about these five is that they are all interrelated. Certainly practicing idolatry and committing fornication are evil things that are associated with lust, involve tempting God to bring His judgment upon you, and are often accompanied by murmuring against God. With that said, I am going to approach answering this question from an interrelatedness perspective rather than breaking each item out separate. One could analyze each of these points in-depth and probably have enough information for a book. I believe that there is a general application encompassing all five that is very compelling to think about. The common thread that runs through all five involve "lust" and "evil things," as is set forth in verse 6.

To discuss lusting for evil things we must first define "lusting" and then "evil things." To lust for someone or something is to desire it strongly. So much so that you are willing to make sacrifices or compromises to get what you want. There are no positive references to "lust" or "lusting" in the Bible. In every instance it is used in a sinful sense. We usually associate lust with wantonness and unseemly desire for other people. But lust can also be for things. The lust for things can also be called greed.

The definition of "evil things" is a little more difficult. In the sense it is used in this passage it is most likely a direct link to the Children of Israel wanting to return to Egypt and desiring the things of that place after God had so graciously liberated them from captivity.  Another instance of lusting after evil things occurred while Moses was on Mt. Sinai and they did evil things worshipping the idol they constructed and committing fornication with one another. Yet another example would be where they defeated heathen nations while wondering the wilderness and were told not to take the defiled goods of these places, but did anyway. As you can see, all these things were evil for the Children of Israel because they represented returning to bondage for worldly comfort (lust of the flesh), committing fornication (spiritual with idols, fleshly with one another) for worldly pleasure with visible things (lust of the eyes), and taking the spoils of war for worldly treasure (pride of life). These are the three lusts common to man and are succinctly put forth in 1John 2:16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
See All...: "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

It cannot be overemphasized how important this statement is. This concept pops up at two of the most significant events in whole Bible.  In both instances it was monumental event in human history. The first was in the Garden of Eden when the disobedience of Adam took place.  After God created Adam and Eve, Satan was there in person and he used these lusts to deceive. We see that the fall of man was caused by this when Eve was deceived (1Timothy 2:14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
See All...) by these three in Genesis 3:6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
See All...:  "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat." Notice Eve said that the tree was "good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise." Here we see the lust of the flesh (good for food), lust of the eyes (pleasant to the eyes), and pride of life (desired to make one wise), given in the exact order given in 1John.

The second event of monumental significance in the Bible (by chronology of course) was the coming of the Saviour. Here we see that these three lusts are what Satan tempted Jesus with after His forty day fast in the wilderness.  Luke 4:1-13 [1] And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, [2] Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. [3] And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. [4] And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. [5] And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. [6] And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. [7] If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. [8] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. [9] And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: [10] For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: [11] And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. [12] And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. [13] And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
See All....

Notice in these passages that Satan tempted Jesus with the lust of the flesh (stones to bread), the lust of the eyes (kingdoms of the world), and the pride of life (show those at the temple you are God by having angels catch you in front of them). Our Lord and Saviour passed these tests and through this and much more proved Himself a worthy redeemer of Adam's poor sin cursed race. Later we have the occasion where the Pharisees accused Jesus of evil for eating with His disciples with unwashed hands. But Jesus used this as an opportunity to teach about evil things.  Mark 7:21-23 [21] For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, [22] Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: [23] All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
See All....

The practical application of this is obvious; you must focus on your heart. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
See All...: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." And in Matthew 12:35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
See All...: "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." Is your heart given over to God? Do you ever lament over the good old days before you were saved, as Israel did over Egypt, when you lived a life in bondage to sin? Do you make idols out of your family, career and possessions and forget about the God on the mountain that makes intercession for you? Do you lust over vacations, wealth, property, cars and recreation, but care little for the lost, mission work, witnessing and attending church?

Ultimately evil things are those things that proceed from the lusts of the heart. They are the product of an evil heart that lusts after the corrupt pleasures and riches of this fallen world. In 1Corinthians 10 we Christians are taught to resist succumbing to the evil things through lust as did the Children of Israel. For as John said in 1John 2:17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
See All...: "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." Amen and amen.